India firmly opposes the “targeting of civilians and infrastructure” as well as the disruption of navigation due to the war in West Asia, said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, inaugurating the 9^th Indian Ocean Conference in Port Louis, which was over shadowed by the conflict and prospects for talks due to begin in Islamabad on Saturday (April 11, 2026).

Mr. Jaishankar, who was in Mauritius for a two-day visit before leaving for the United Arab Emirates on Friday (April 10, 2026) night, met with many leaders from the region, including the leadership of Mauritius, and his counterparts from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Seychelles, and other officials from Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other Gulf countries present at the conference. Many delegates cancelled their attendance due to the conflict and travel disruptions. No delegate attended from the Maldives, as Mauritius and Maldives have suspended diplomatic ties over territorial differences over the Chagos Islands.

India is finalising an agreement for the supply of oil and gas to Mauritius to strengthen its energy security amid the crisis due to the West Asia conflict, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday (April 9, 2026).

Mr. Jaishankar, who is in Mauritius to attend the 9th Indian Ocean Conference, said the ongoing crisis in West Asia as Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam reminded him, has underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, especially in the energy sector.

The West Asia war and Iran’s chokehold of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which a fifth of global oil passes, had halted shipping and sent global oil prices soaring.