OPERATION SINDHU
Why in News?
- In June 2025, India initiated ‘Operation Sindhu’ to evacuate its nationals from Iran due to the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel.
KEY DETAILS
- Launch: initial phases: June 17-18, 2025
- Objective: Ensure safety and facilitate evacuation of Indian nationals from conflict areas in Iran.
- Context: Worsening security due to ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, including missile and drone attacks.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
- Indian Presence: Over 4,000 Indian nationals, approximately half of whom are students, reside in Iran.
EXECUTION & COORDINATION
- First Batch (June 17-19, 2025): 110 Indian students from northern Iran were evacuated by road to Armenia, then flown to New Delhi. Indian Missions in Iran and Armenia supervised the transfer.
- Ongoing Efforts: The Indian Embassy in Iran continues to assist nationals in moving to safer zones and arranging further evacuations.
- Iranian Cooperation: Iran notably eased airspace restrictions for Indian evacuation flights, making a humanitarian exception.
- Support Channels: Indian nationals are advised to contact the Indian Embassy in Tehran’s emergency helpline or the MEA’s 24×7 Control Room in New Delhi.
- Future Phases: The government is planning additional evacuation phases for other vulnerable groups.
- Broader Evacuation: India also requested its nationals to leave Israel concurrently, indicating a wider evacuation effort across the conflict zone.
DIPLOMATIC CHALLENGES & REGIONAL DYNAMICS
- Complex Geopolitics: India navigates sensitive regional relationships due to the conflict.
- Transit Nations: Armenia, Turkmenistan, and Iraq are key neighbors with amicable ties, providing potential evacuation routes.
- Difficult Relations: India faces challenges with other bordering countries like Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan; lacks formal diplomatic ties with Afghanistan.
- Alternative Routes: The Persian Gulf route (via ships or Saudi Arabia/Kuwait) is also being considered.
- Diplomatic Leveraging: India is actively using its diplomatic relationships to facilitate safe evacuations.
INDIA’S HUMANITARIAN EVACUATION POLICY & PRECEDENTS
- Highest Priority to Citizens’ Safety: The Government of India consistently accords the “highest priority to the safety and security of Indian nationals abroad.”
- “No Indian Left Behind” Policy: Operation Sindhu reinforces India’s global policy of “No Indian Left Behind” during crises, a cornerstone of its citizen-first diplomacy.
- Track Record of Evacuation Missions: India has a strong track record of successful humanitarian evacuation missions, including:
- Operation Ganga (2022): Evacuation from Ukraine during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
- Operation Kaveri (2023): Evacuation from Sudan during civil unrest.
- Operation Devi Shakti (2021): Evacuation from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.
- Operation Raahat (2015): Evacuation from Yemen.
- Operation Sukoon (2006): Evacuation from Lebanon.
- Rapid Response Capability: These operations showcase India’s robust crisis response system, logistical strength, and ability to protect its citizens in geopolitical flashpoints.
- Strengthening Diplomatic Image: Such missions significantly strengthen India’s diplomatic image and soft power globally.
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