India calls Saudi attacks totally unacceptable

Suhail Khan 

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New Delhi, Oct 14 : India on Wednesday condemned the string of attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, saying the totally unacceptable acts must cease immediately, while asserting that New Delhi remains committed to securing the welfare and well-being of Indian nationals abroad.

Addressing his bi-weekly media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal as per Kashmir Convener said that, as per the wishes of the family of an Indian national who died on October 11 — a day after suffering injuries in the Riyadh airport attack — his last rites were performed in the Saudi capital with assistance from the Indian Embassy there.

The strike on Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport last Saturday was the latest in a series of attacks targeting the facility over the past week. Eleven Indians were among those injured in the attack, which claimed 12 lives.

Out of the 11 Indians injured, three have been discharged while eight continue to be in hospital, including four in the ICU. Our embassy officials are regularly visiting the injured and are also in touch with their families. We remain committed to doing our best for the welfare and well-being of our nationals abroad, Jaiswal said.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh had said in a social media post on Sunday that one Indian national injured in the attack had lost his life.

There have been a string of attacks in Saudi Arabia, which we have condemned. Yesterday, the Aramco headquarters was attacked. We condemn all such attacks on civilian infrastructure in Saudi Arabia. Such attacks need to cease immediately. They are totally unacceptable.

We stand in solidarity with the people and the government of Saudi Arabia in defence of their sovereignty. We hope peace and normalcy return to the region soon, he said.

Jaiswal was responding to a query amid a fresh escalation in attacks on Saudi infrastructure — including airports and oil facilities — by Iran-backed Houthis.

Saudi airports, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha airport, have been repeatedly targeted by Houthi attacks this month, disrupting flights and causing casualties.

 

Saudi Arabia’s energy ministry said a limited fire broke out in an administrative building at an Aramco facility in the kingdom’s Eastern Province after it was targeted in an attack, though no injuries were reported.

The incident came amid an exchange of attacks between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition on Tuesday night, marking a fresh escalation in the widening crisis in West Asia.

Asked about the number of Indians affected by the attacks and the efforts being made to assist them, Jaiswal said We have a large diaspora there. Our embassy in Saudi Arabia has been in regular touch with our community members for their welfare. It has also issued advisories.

A lot of Indians travel between Saudi Arabia and India, and some of them have been impacted by disruptions in flight schedules after the attacks on the airports there.

He added that Indian carriers have also been impacted by the disruptions, even though several flights are now being operated by Saudi airlines.

The flights which have been disrupted include those originating or going to Riyadh, Dammam and Medina, and to one or two more airports, including Jeddah. The Indian Embassy is providing updated information to our travellers who are stuck there, Jaiswal said.