Port Louis: India on Friday intensified its diplomatic and economic outreach amid the West Asia crisis, with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar voicing concern over escalating tensions, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri engaging Qatar to secure energy supplies, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal coordinating with Gulf partners to restore disrupted trade flows, as New Delhi pushed for stability, uninterrupted shipping and an early return to normalcy in the region.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Friday described the situation as “deeply concerning” and reiterated India’s firm opposition to attacks on civilians, infrastructure and commercial shipping, while highlighting the broader economic fallout of the conflict. His remarks came as uncertainty persisted over a fragile two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States, announced after Israeli strikes on Lebanon escalated hostilities.
Addressing the Indian Ocean Conference, Jaishankar said countries across the region were facing immediate and long-term consequences of the conflict.
“All of us are deeply concerned about the conflict and would like to see an early return to normalcy. We firmly oppose the targeting of civilians, infrastructure and commercial shipping,” he said.
He underlined the importance of keeping maritime routes open, particularly the Strait of Hormuz, which carries nearly 20 per cent of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Iran’s move to restrict access to the narrow passage has driven up global oil and gas prices and triggered widespread concerns about supply disruptions.
“When energy becomes scarce and expensive, it has an overarching implication for the entire society,” Jaishankar said, adding that disruptions extend beyond fuel markets. He noted that constraints on fertiliser supplies could have direct consequences for food security, while trade bottlenecks affect multiple sectors simultaneously.
India, which depends heavily on West Asia for its energy needs, has been closely monitoring developments. New Delhi had earlier welcomed the ceasefire and called for unimpeded navigation and free flow of commerce through critical sea lanes. Talks between Iran and the United States are expected to take place in Islamabad over the weekend in an effort to stabilise the situation.
Parallel diplomatic efforts have focused on securing energy supplies. Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri visited Doha on April 9 and 10, where he held discussions with Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, Qatar’s Minister of State for Energy Affairs and President and CEO of QatarEnergy.
During the visit, Puri conveyed a message of solidarity from Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar’s leadership, including the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The outreach followed the escalation of conflict that has disrupted energy production and exports across the Gulf.
Qatar, India’s largest supplier of liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas, reassured New Delhi of its continued commitment. Al Kaabi said the country would remain a “reliable energy supplier” and expressed readiness to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
India sources about 45 per cent of its LNG and 20 per cent of its LPG from Qatar. The stakes have risen sharply after a major Qatari LNG export facility was struck during retaliatory attacks linked to the conflict, forcing a shutdown and declaration of force majeure on gas exports, including supplies to India.
The six-week conflict has severely curtailed energy exports from Gulf countries, leading to industrial supply shortages and rising costs in India. The country relies on imports to meet roughly half of its natural gas demand and about two thirds of its LPG consumption, making it particularly vulnerable to disruptions.
Both sides welcomed the April 8 ceasefire and stressed the urgency of restoring stability in global energy markets. They also highlighted the need for uninterrupted maritime navigation and the smooth functioning of supply chains.
The discussions in Doha also covered broader aspects of India Qatar relations, including trade, investment, culture and people to people ties. Indian officials noted that leaders from both countries had earlier spoken twice in March, agreeing on the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the crisis.
At the same time, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has been engaging with regional partners to address trade disruptions and stabilise supply chains.
Goyal held virtual talks with Kuwait’s Commerce Minister Osama Khaled Boodai, where he conveyed India’s willingness to assist in resolving supply chain challenges, particularly those related to food security. Both sides agreed that dialogue should take precedence and that energy and trade flows must be restored quickly.
In separate discussions with the United Arab Emirates Minister of Foreign Trade Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Goyal reviewed measures to ensure continuity of trade. The two sides acknowledged significant strain on regional supply chains and called for coordinated efforts to maintain smooth movement of goods.
India also recognised the UAE’s logistical initiatives, including the development of alternate routes and multimodal transport systems to bypass disrupted maritime channels. Goyal highlighted steps taken by India to support exporters and ensure availability of essential goods domestically.
Further consultations were held with Jasem Mohamed Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, where both sides expressed hope that the ceasefire would hold and pave the way for long-term stability. Goyal also met Bahrain’s Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla Bin Adel Fakhro, stressing the importance of predictable trade flows across maritime and other routes.
The Gulf Cooperation Council countries, comprising the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait, are among India’s most significant trading partners. Bilateral trade between India and the region stood at USD 178 billion in 2024-25, including exports of USD 56.87 billion and imports of USD 121.67 billion.
The ongoing conflict has disrupted shipping routes and posed challenges for exporters across sectors such as petroleum products, chemicals, engineering goods, rice, pharmaceuticals and gems and jewellery. Attacks on Iran by the United States and Israel have compounded instability, affecting vessel movement in international waters and slowing trade flows.
As tensions continue, India’s multi-pronged approach combining diplomatic outreach, energy negotiations and trade coordination reflects the urgency of safeguarding its economic interests while advocating for de-escalation.
Officials across ministries have reiterated that restoring peace and ensuring uninterrupted access to critical resources and trade routes remain central priorities, amid concerns that prolonged instability in West Asia could have lasting global repercussions.