As the two-week ceasefire window in West Asia approaches its end on April 22, India has brought back over 11 lakh passengers from the region through ongoing flight operations from multiple countries and alternative routes. According to Aseem Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs, shared during a press briefing in New Delhi on Monday, these evacuations have been carried out since February 28, with airlines continuing limited commercial services depending on airspace availability and safety conditions. He said that around 11,30,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India so far, and approximately 110 flights are scheduled from the UAE to India on the day of the briefing.

He further noted that flights are operating from Saudi Arabia and Oman to various Indian cities, while Qatar’s partially open airspace is allowing Qatar Airways to run around 10–11 flights to India. Bahrain has also kept its airspace open, and Gulf Air plans to resume limited services, including non-scheduled flights from Dammam in Saudi Arabia to India.

Mahajan added that Iran’s airspace remains partly open for cargo and charter flights, and Indian missions are helping citizens travel via Armenia and Azerbaijan. So far, 2,423 Indians, including students and fishermen, have exited Iran through these routes. He also mentioned that Iraq’s airspace is open with limited regional flights, while Kuwait’s airspace remains closed, with airlines like Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways operating non-scheduled flights from Dammam. Israel’s airspace is open with restricted operations, and India is assisting nationals in travelling via Jordan and Egypt.

The MEA said it is closely monitoring the evolving situation in West Asia to ensure the safety and welfare of the large Indian diaspora. A dedicated control room is functioning round-the-clock in coordination with Indian missions to provide assistance and respond to queries. Special attention is also being given to Indian seafarers with support from local authorities.

Officials also noted that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval recently visited Saudi Arabia, where discussions focused on regional developments and strengthening bilateral ties. The ministry emphasized that continued engagement with countries in the region is vital to safeguard India’s strategic and economic interests amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.

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