West Asia War: PM Modi To Hold All-Party Meeting To Discuss Middle East Conflict; What To Expect?

The Union government is holding an all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis at 5 pm, as tensions in the region continue and shipping lanes stay disturbed. The session is meant to shape a common political response, even as Rahul Gandhi skips the discussions because of a prior engagement in Kerala.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to preside over the all-party meeting, according to agency reports. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is likely to join, along with leaders from several parties. The focus is on security of Indian nationals, energy supplies and shipping traffic affected by the West Asia conflict.

West Asia conflict and all-party meeting: key strategic reviews

The political outreach follows a series of high-level security reviews on the West Asia conflict. On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security to assess the situation and examine ongoing and proposed responses, including measures to cushion shocks to energy and fertiliser supplies.

During that Cabinet Committee on Security review, Modi instructed officials to create a dedicated group of ministers and senior secretaries. This team is tasked with working full-time on developments linked to the West Asia conflict, coordinating steps across petroleum, gas, power and fertiliser sectors, and monitoring risks to Indian citizens abroad.

West Asia conflict: defence, energy and maritime concerns

Earlier, on Tuesday, Rajnath Singh chaired a separate meeting on the wider Middle East and West Asia conflict. Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan attended, along with the three service chiefs and DRDO Chairman Dr. Samir Kamat. They discussed defence preparedness, maritime security and potential implications for regional stability.

The Prime Minister also reviewed the evolving West Asia crisis in a high-level session focused on petroleum, crude, gas, power and fertiliser. Officials analysed possible disruptions to imports, price volatility and logistics challenges. India’s dependence on Gulf energy sources and fertiliser inputs made the briefing central to the wider risk assessment.

West Asia conflict: timeline, Strait of Hormuz and global impact

The conflict in West Asia has now entered its fourth week, straining trade along the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions surged after 86-year-old Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in joint military strikes by the United States and Israel on 28 February, triggering a series of regional confrontations.

In response, Iran launched attacks on Israeli and US targets across multiple Gulf states, further unsettling the strategic waterway. These actions have shaken global energy markets and raised fresh worries about economic stability. Disruptions to shipping lanes have highlighted India’s exposure through both crude imports and Indian crews on merchant vessels.

Parliament debate on West Asia conflict and Rahul Gandhi’s absence

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, told reporters in the Parliament House Complex that attendance at the Kerala programme meant Rahul Gandhi would miss the all-party meeting on the West Asia crisis. Congress had already criticised the prime minister’s Parliament statement on the situation.

The party said that Modi’s remarks were a "prepared text full of self-praise" and framed them as focused on perceived achievements over the last 11 years. Congress leaders argued that the address did not adequately confront the risks posed by the West Asia conflict to Indian workers and the wider economy.

Government strategy on West Asia conflict and maritime routes

In the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, Modi explained that the government had set up seven empowered groups. These bodies are responsible for strategies covering fuel security, supply chains, fertilisers and other sensitive sectors, aiming to reduce the fallout from the Iran-Israel-US confrontation and associated tensions in the West Asia conflict.

Addressing the Lok Sabha on Monday, Modi warned that the difficult global conditions linked to the West Asia conflict could last for an extended period. Modi compared the situation to the COVID-19 phase, and urged the country to show the same sense of unity and preparedness against external shocks.

Key Event	Date	Main Figures
Strike killing Ayatollah Ali Khamenei	28 February	US, Israel, Iran
Modi-Trump phone discussion on West Asia conflict	24 March	Narendra Modi, Donald Trump
Modi’s Lok Sabha address on conflict	Monday	Narendra Modi
Rajnath Singh’s defence review meeting	Tuesday	Rajnath Singh, military chiefs

West Asia conflict, Indian diaspora and Modi-Trump talks

Modi told Parliament that West Asia holds special importance because nearly one crore Indians live and work in Gulf countries. Large numbers of Indian crew members serve on commercial ships using these waters, which makes any escalation in the West Asia conflict a direct concern for India’s security and economy.

Modi said, "Due to these varied reasons, India's concerns are naturally greater. Therefore, it is essential that a unanimous and united voice from India's Parliament on this crisis reaches the world." The appeal has framed the all-party meeting as an effort to project political consensus during the West Asia conflict.

On 24 March, Modi said that President Trump had called to discuss the West Asia conflict and regional security. Modi stated, "India supports de-escalation and restoration of peace at the earliest. Ensuring that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, secure and accessible is essential for the whole world. We agreed to stay in touch regarding efforts towards peace and stability," Modi said.

With the conflict in its fourth week and maritime routes under pressure, the government is relying on empowered groups, diplomatic outreach and security reviews to manage fallout. The all-party meeting is intended to inform political parties, address concerns about Indians in Gulf nations and reinforce a shared stance on the West Asia crisis.