India expresses solidarity with Saudi Arabia, condemns attacks on civilian infrastructure

India today voiced solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned a series of attacks in the West Asian nation. Speaking to the media in New Delhi this afternoon, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal condemned yesterday’s attack on Aramco’s headquarters and said India opposes all attacks on civilian infrastructure. He called such attacks completely unacceptable and said they must stop immediately. Jaiswal added that India stands with the people and government of Saudi Arabia as they defend the country’s sovereignty. He said India hopes peace and normalcy will return to the region.

Providing an update on the Indian community in Saudi Arabia, Jaiswal said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh is in regular contact with community members to support their welfare. Advisories have also been issued. He noted that the attack on Riyadh International Airport disrupted flight schedules. Indian carriers have been affected, though several Saudi airlines continue to operate flights between India and Saudi Arabia.

Responding to a question about India-Iran national security adviser talks, Jaiswal said NSA Ajit Doval spoke with his Iranian counterpart, Dr Mohsen Rezaei, on 12 October. They discussed bilateral matters, the regional situation and international developments. The safety and security of Indian seafarers and tankers also came up in the conversation.

Commenting on the OHCHR’s recent remarks about the situation in the national capital, Jaiswal described its concerns as unwarranted and unacceptable. He criticized what he called the OHCHR’s selective approach, saying it had not publicly commented on protests or law-enforcement actions in other parts of the world. He warned that continuing along this path could undermine faith in multilateralism and damage the organisation’s credibility.