India will not be drawn into the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, but the war is already having serious consequences for the country and millions of its citizens abroad, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said in an interview.
Speaking to India Today TV as the war involving Israel, Iran and the United States entered its seventh day, Tharoor said New Delhi’s priority should be pushing for an immediate ceasefire and diplomatic resolution.
“It is very much in India’s interest to demand de-escalation and diplomacy,” he said, stressing that India is unlikely to participate militarily in the conflict.
However, Tharoor warned that the impact of the war is already being felt by Indian nationals working in Gulf countries. According to him, several Indians have faced disruptions, including being stranded at airports due to projectiles flying overhead and businesses being affected by the outbreak of hostilities.
“We are a country with nine to ten million of our nationals in the Gulf. This really affects their lives, their ability to work and send remittances back home,” Tharoor said, adding that India cannot remain indifferent to the situation.
Tharoor on US Oil Waiver
The Congress leader also addressed the controversy surrounding a recent decision by the administration of Donald Trump to grant India a 30-day waiver allowing it to continue purchasing Russian oil.
The move is aimed at stabilising global energy markets amid growing uncertainty in oil supplies due to the Middle East conflict.
Opposition parties have criticised the development, questioning whether the waiver compromises India’s sovereignty. Responding to the debate, Tharoor said the government faces complex economic choices.
“The problem is the consequences if we don’t,” he said, noting that companies importing Russian oil could face sanctions affecting their broader businesses without the waiver.
Tharoor said the situation highlights the difficult balance India must maintain between protecting its economic interests and navigating geopolitical tensions during the ongoing Middle East crisis.
