/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178931256598495769.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178922003694899718.webp)
What is the story about?
India has condemned an attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman, saying 13 of the 14 Indian crew members onboard have been rescued while search operations continue for the remaining Indian national.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement on Sunday, said the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities involved in the search and rescue operation.
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman earlier today,” the MEA said. It thanked the Omani authorities for their assistance in rescuing the Indian crew members.
The ministry did not provide details on the circumstances of the attack or identify those responsible.
India calls for de-escalation
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the wider region, with India calling for an immediate reduction in tensions and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
The MEA said attacks targeting commercial vessels, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure were unacceptable. It also called for the restoration of free and safe navigation and the uninterrupted movement of commerce through international waterways in the region.
The ministry said the Indian Embassy in Muscat would remain engaged with Omani authorities as the search for the missing crew member continues.
Why it matters
The waters around Oman form part of important maritime routes connecting the Gulf with the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean. Any disruption to commercial shipping in the region can affect the movement of goods and energy supplies and raise risks for seafarers operating in the area.
For India, the safety of commercial shipping is particularly significant given the large number of Indian seafarers working on merchant vessels worldwide. The government has repeatedly stressed the need to keep regional waterways open and secure as tensions in West Asia continue to pose risks to civilian and commercial traffic.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), in a statement on Sunday, said the Indian Embassy in Oman is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating with Omani authorities involved in the search and rescue operation.
“We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel MT El Gaia off the coast of Oman earlier today,” the MEA said. It thanked the Omani authorities for their assistance in rescuing the Indian crew members.
The ministry did not provide details on the circumstances of the attack or identify those responsible.
India calls for de-escalation
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the wider region, with India calling for an immediate reduction in tensions and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
The MEA said attacks targeting commercial vessels, seafarers, civilians and civilian infrastructure were unacceptable. It also called for the restoration of free and safe navigation and the uninterrupted movement of commerce through international waterways in the region.
The ministry said the Indian Embassy in Muscat would remain engaged with Omani authorities as the search for the missing crew member continues.
Why it matters
The waters around Oman form part of important maritime routes connecting the Gulf with the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean. Any disruption to commercial shipping in the region can affect the movement of goods and energy supplies and raise risks for seafarers operating in the area.
For India, the safety of commercial shipping is particularly significant given the large number of Indian seafarers working on merchant vessels worldwide. The government has repeatedly stressed the need to keep regional waterways open and secure as tensions in West Asia continue to pose risks to civilian and commercial traffic.
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178947502479960321.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178937253659596605.webp)
/images/ppid_59c68470-image-178938502566796701.webp)
