India, UAE Agree To Work Together For Early Restoration Of Peace & Stability
India and the UAE agreed to work together for the early restoration of peace, security and stability in the region while ensuring safe and free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. During an inter-ministerial briefing on recent developments in West Asia held in New Delhi, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with President of UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on the situation in West Asia yesterday. Prime Minister Modi strongly condemned attacks on the UAE, causing loss of innocent lives and damage to civilian infrastructure.
(Meanwhile A large Indian vessel named ‘Jag Ladki’ arrived at Mundra Port in Gujarat this morning carrying a significant consignment of crude oil. The ship is transporting approximately eighty-one thousand metric tonnes of high-quality oil from the United Arab Emirates. It follows the earlier arrival of the vessel ‘Shivalik’ at Mundra and ‘Nandadevi’ at the Vadinar port. Authorities at the port have ensured smooth offloading operations to facilitate the distribution of the crude oil to refineries.)
The Spokesperson further informed that the Embassy of India in Tehran has issued an advisory for Indian nationals, especially students, regarding travel via land borders to Armenia and Azerbaijan. Citizens are advised to follow the advisory for smoother cross-border movement as per their convenience.
During the briefing Joint Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Sujata Sharma, shared the information that the Crude Availability is Normal and refineries are operating at maximum capacity. . She said that domestic LPG production has increased by 40 percent and no dry out has been reported in any retail outlet across the country. Ms Sharma said the government has offered an additional 10 per cent allocation of commercial LPG to all states and union territories, subject to support in the long-term transition from LPG to PNG. She added that the Government has also urged commercial LPG consumers in the major cities and urban areas to switch to PNG.
Talking about Enforcement Action, she said, about twelve thousand raids have been conducted in the last few days, and about fifteen thousand cylinders have been seized. She said the inspection teams of oil marketing companies have also been activated, and surprise inspections have been conducted at about two and a half thousand retail outlets and LPG distributorships.
Special Secretary for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Rajesh Kumar Sinha, said that all Indian vessels remain safe, with no incidents reported. In the past 24 hours, 25 Indian nationals were repatriated after sign-off from various ports. He said the 24×7 control room handled 125 calls and about 450 emails, all promptly addressed. Mr Sinha informed that LPG carriers Shivalik and Nanda Devi are discharging cargo as per requirements, with operations supported by an additional 2,500 sq. m. space at Visakhapatnam Port. Special Secretary said that the Ministry continues to closely monitor shipping movements, seafarers’ welfare, and overall maritime trade operations.(UPDATED ON 18TH MARCH 2026)
