‘Requests being examined’: Maldives, Sri Lanka among several nations seeking India’s energy supplies, says MEA

NEW DELHI: The ministry of external affairs on Thursday said several neighbouring countries have sought India’s assistance for petroleum supplies amid rising regional pressures as the Middle East conflict continues. “On Bangladesh, we continue to supply energy requirements to them since 2007… We have also recently supplied 38,000 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka, based on their request. We have ongoing engagement with Nepal and Bhutan, which continues,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said. “The government of the Maldives has also reached out to us for the supply of petroleum products, both on a short-term and long-term basis. These requests are being examined, keeping in mind our own availability and needs,” he added.Jaiswal also offered assurances on safety of Indians in the region. “”Around 10 million Indians live in the GCC countries. All of them are safe, and we remain in constant communication with them. It is unfortunate that, so far, eight Indians have been killed in this conflict, and one is still missing,” he said.“Here at the Ministry of External Affairs, in coordination with our Ministry of Shipping and all our Indian embassies in the region, we are dedicated to safeguarding the security and interests of our citizens. We are closely monitoring all developments and activities related to the Gulf region, this ongoing conflict, and the Strait of Hormuz,” he further said.Additionally, addressing evacuation efforts, Jaiswal said, “Several of our Indian nationals—204, to be precise—have been able to leave Iran for Azerbaijan through the land border, and from there, they will be coming back home. Several of them have already returned, while others will do so over the next few days. We are thankful to the government of Azerbaijan for its support in facilitating the exit of Indian nationals from Iran.”