Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India is ready to extend all possible support to bring peace in West Asia, the media reported.
On the first leg of his five-nation visit, PM Modi, who reached Abu Dhabi, said this during his talks with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who received him at the airport.
The Modi-Al Nahyan meeting took place shortly after the PM landed in the Gulf nation, which was among the Arab states recently hit in Iranian attacks.
“We condemned the attacks on the UAE,” PM Modi said in his opening remarks in the meeting with the UAE leader.
The UAE, which hosts a key US military base, has been at the receiving end of Iranian strikes during the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
“The way the UAE has been targeted is not acceptable,” PM Modi said, but “the way the UAE has handled the current situation with restraint is praiseworthy.””
He also highlighted how the impact of the West Asian conflict is being felt globally, adding, “India is ready to extend all possible support to bring peace in West Asia.”
F-16 aircraft escorts
In a special gesture, a formation of F-16 fighter aircraft from the UAE escorted PM Modi’s plane when it entered the Gulf country’s airspace on Friday.
“The way your air force escorted me today is an honour for the people of India. For quite some time, we had been speaking over the phone, but I was eager to meet you personally. I am very happy to meet you today,” Modi told the UAE President during their meeting.
As the aircraft carrying PM Modi entered the UAE airspace, it was met by a formation of military aircraft, the state-run WAM news agency reported.
“The squadron leader requested permission to escort the aircraft to the airport in a gesture of welcome,” it added.
The PM was received at the airport by the UAE President, reflecting the importance attached by the Arab country to PM Modi’s visit. The Indian leader was also accorded a guard of honour.
“I extend my thanks to my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his ‘gracious gesture’ in receiving me at Abu Dhabi Airport,” PM Modi said on social media.
“And I look forward to our discussions aimed at strengthening the ties between India and the UAE across key sectors, such as energy, investment, supply chains, and more,” he said.