As part of a major diplomatic outreach to the neighbouring countries, India said on Saturday that it will evacuate nationals of Nepal and Sri Lanka who are stranded in Iran and want to leave the country after the war has started. Officials say that Delhi is setting an example for India’s neighbourhood first policy of helping their neighbours in times of crisis, be it conflict, natural calamity, or pandemic.
The announcement came on the day when two more flights, operated by the Iranian Mahan Air, landed in the national capital.
The Indian Embassy situated in Tehran posted on the social media platform, X, that “on request of the government of Nepal and Sri Lanka. The Indian Embassy’s evacuation effort in Iran will also cover citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka… The citizens of Nepal and Sri Lanka may urgently reach out to the Embassy either on the telegram channel or over the emergency contact number +989010144557, +989128109115, +989128109109.
This be the first time Delhi has stepped in its evacuation of citizens for the neighbouring countries as well. In the early days of the Ukraine war, India evacuated nationals of neighbouring countries along with their own citizens.
Nepal and Sri Lanka Congratulate India
Nepali foreign minister Arzu Rana Deuba expressed Kathmandu’s gratitude via a post on X and thanked external affairs minister S. Jaishankar for India’s swift assistance in helping evacuate Nepali nationals from Iran.
“India’s support to Nepal’s evacuation efforts is a reflection of the strength of Nepal-India ties,” stated Arzu.
While the Sri Lanka’s minister of foreign affairs congratulated the government of India for its support to the nation in a post which stated, “Sri Lanka extends its sincere gratitude to the government of India for the timely assistance to evac Sri Lankan nationals from Iran alongside Indian citizens. This act of solidarity exemplifies the strong and enduring partnership between Sri Lanka and India and is deeply appreciated by the people of Sri Lanka.”
So far, 27 Indian nationals have been evacuated from Iran. National media suggest that about 16 Nepali nationals are in touch with the Nepali Embassy in Delhi.
