New Delhi, March 1 (NationPress) On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in a conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, where he expressed a strong condemnation of the recent assaults on the Gulf nation and conveyed India's unwavering solidarity during this challenging period.

In a message posted on X, the Prime Minister extended his condolences for the lives lost in the attacks and reaffirmed India's commitment to supporting the UAE.

“I spoke with my brother, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. I strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and expressed my condolences for the lives lost. India stands firmly with the UAE during these trying times,” said PM Modi.

He also expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for their care towards the substantial Indian community residing there.

“I thanked him for looking after the Indian community living in the UAE. We advocate for de-escalation, regional peace, security, and stability,” he added.

India and the UAE enjoy a close partnership encompassing strategic and economic relations, including collaborations in trade, energy, defense, counter-terrorism, and diaspora matters. The UAE hosts one of the largest Indian expatriate communities globally, which plays a vital role in enhancing the interpersonal connections between the two nations.

Specifics of their discussion were not disclosed immediately.

This outreach from the Prime Minister occurs amidst heightened tensions in West Asia, with numerous nations on high alert following recent developments in the region.

On the same day, PM Modi presided over a high-level meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in the national capital late in the evening, according to government sources.

The CCS meeting, the main decision-making body for security and strategic issues, was convened against the backdrop of a rapidly worsening geopolitical situation in the Middle East, following coordinated US-Israeli airstrikes on Iran, which have escalated regional tensions and raised global security concerns.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended the meeting.

As per official reports, PM Modi returned to Delhi around 9:30 p.m. after wrapping up a two-day tour of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry.

“The Prime Minister chaired a CCS meeting upon returning to Delhi tonight from his two-day journey across the states,” a government insider noted.

The urgent assembly of the CCS is interpreted as a reaction to the most recent developments in West Asia, which includes the US-Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and the ensuing retaliatory actions.

Reports suggest the potential killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei amid these escalations, amplifying concerns over a broader conflict.