Onlykashmir.in News Desk
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to review the situation arising from the ongoing conflict in West Asia and to assess the measures being taken by various ministries and departments in response.
Addressing the meeting, Modi called for a unified and coordinated mechanism for regular monitoring of all developments linked to the conflict, stressing the need for expeditious implementation of measures aimed at safeguarding citizens’ interests. He directed officials to establish a dedicated mechanism to provide timely information, emergency assistance and counselling to seafarers and their families, an area of particular concern given the exposure of Indian maritime crews to disruptions in the West Asia region.
With the Rabi sowing season approaching, the meeting also took up the question of fertiliser availability, with discussions focused on the usage of alternate sources of fertilisers to reduce dependence on supplies that could be affected by the regional conflict. Modi underlined that all necessary measures must be taken to ensure an uninterrupted supply of fertilisers to farmers across the country, given the sector’s sensitivity to any disruption during the sowing window.
The Prime Minister further stressed that every effort must be made to safeguard Indian citizens as well as the wider Indian diaspora from the fallout of the conflict, reflecting the government’s continuing focus on the safety of nationals living and working in the affected region. He also emphasised greater usage of renewable energy sources as a means of strengthening India’s energy independence at a time when global energy markets remain vulnerable to geopolitical shocks emanating from West Asia.
Modi noted that a whole of government approach would continue to be adopted to tackle the range of challenges arising from the crisis, signalling that the response would remain coordinated across ministries rather than being handled in silos. During the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary briefed the committee on the initiatives already taken to ensure an adequate supply of petroleum products, a key concern given India’s reliance on imports from the region.
This was the fourth special Cabinet Committee on Security meeting convened specifically on the West Asia situation, underscoring the sustained level of attention the government has devoted to monitoring the conflict’s impact on India’s strategic and economic interests.
