On Friday, the government refuted social media claims that 3,000 Ukrainians had entered India and were hiding in the northeast to train insurgent groups, labeling the posts “Fake.” The statement noted that “7 individuals (6 Ukrainians and 1 American) have been arrested by the NIA for illegal entry into Myanmar via Mizoram.” (PIB/X) The government stated that social media posts claiming over 3,000 Ukrainians have entered India and are hiding in the North-East to train insurgent groups—allegedly backed by US mercenaries and supplying cheap drones to terrorists—are “Fake.” It added that “7 individuals (6 Ukrainians and 1 American) have been arrested by the NIA for illegal entry into Myanmar via Mizoram.” Immigration and security agencies are staying fully vigilant, with the investigation still underway. Among the seven individuals arrested is Matthew Aaron VanDyke, a U.S. citizen and international security analyst detained at Kolkata airport. He founded the “Sons of Liberty International (SOLI)” and describes himself as a veteran of the “Libyan Revolution.” Six Ukrainian nationals—Hurba Petro, Slyviak Taras, Ivan Sukmanovskyi, Stefankiv Marian, Honcharuk Maksim, and Kaminskyi Viktor—were initially detained at the Delhi and Lucknow airports. Officials state that all have been charged with illegal activities for assisting armed militias in Myanmar that collaborate with anti-India insurgent groups. The arrests occurred last week based on a specific tip-off. The Bureau of Immigration apprehended the seven individuals as they tried to pass through key Indian transit hubs. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) later arrested them. Per an FIR lodged by the NIA, 14 Ukrainians arrived in India on tourist visas at different times, then traveled to Guwahati in Assam and onward to Mizoram without obtaining the required Restricted Area Permit (RAP) or Protected Area Permit (PAP). The group subsequently crossed into Myanmar illegally to deliver pre-arranged training in drone warfare and jamming technology to Myanmar-based Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs), which are known to back terrorist outfits active in India, according to the FIR. “These EAGs are also recognized for aiding banned Indian insurgent groups by providing weapons, other terrorist equipment, and training, thereby threatening India’s national security and interests,” the FIR further stated. On March 16, the suspects were brought before a local court, which granted the NIA 11 days of custody. 

 Liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies from Qatar to India could be impacted following Iranian strikes on energy facilities in the Middle Eastern nation, a government official said on Friday.. In 2024/25, India imported over 27 million metric tons of LNG, with Qatar supplying 11.2 million tons (REUTERS). India, the world’s fourth-largest LNG importer, relies on Qatar for about 41% of its gas imports.. In 2024/25, India imported over 27 million metric tons of LNG, with Qatar supplying 11.2 million tons, according to government data.. “(LNG) capacity of Qatar has been hit, this will hit us too,” Sujata Sharma, a joint secretary in the federal oil ministry, told a news conference. India is Qatar’s second biggest LNG customer.. Iranian attacks have knocked out 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity, causing an estimated $20 billion in lost annual revenue and threatening supplies to Europe and Asia, QatarEnergy CEO Saad al-Kaabi told Reuters on Thursday.. He said two of Qatar’s 14 LNG trains and one of its two gas-to-liquids (GTL) facilities were damaged, with repairs expected to sideline 12.8 million tons per year of LNG for three to five years.. Qatar earlier this month had declared force majeure on gas exports after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran broke out on February 28, halting shipments via the Strait of Hormuz.. Indian industry officials, however, are hopeful that Qatar will continue supplies to India after the lifting of the force majeure, as the facilities catering to Indian demand have not been affected by the attack. 

 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday spoke to King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain and while discussing with him the current situation in West Asia, condemned attacks on the energy and civilian infrastructure in the region.. The prime minister also thanked the king for his continued support for the well-being of the Indian community in Bahrain. (Reuters/ File). During his telephonic conversation with the King of Bahrain, the prime minister reiterated the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and keeping shipping lines open and secure.. “Had a fruitful discussion with the King of Bahrain, His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa. Conveyed warm greetings on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr to him and the people of Bahrain.. “We discussed the current situation in the West Asian region. Condemned attacks on the energy and civilian infrastructure in the region, underscoring their adverse impact on global food, fuel and fertiliser security,” Modi said in a post on X.. The prime minister also thanked the king for his continued support for the well-being of the Indian community in Bahrain.. This was the second time Modi spoke to the king of Bahrain since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. The Islamic Republic also retaliated by attacking several of its Gulf neighbours.. The prime minister has also spoken to several other world leaders, including those from Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, France, Malaysia, Israel and Iran since the conflict began. 

 An Indian national was killed in missile and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s capital, the external affairs ministry announced on Friday. This raises the total number of Indian fatalities in the West Asia conflict to six, as New Delhi keeps implementing measures to protect 10 million citizens in the region. FILE PHOTO: Clouds drift over the Riyadh skyline. (REUTERS). An Indian national died in Riyadh on Wednesday, marking the first reported Indian death in Saudi Arabia. On February 13, two Indians lost their lives in an assault on an industrial zone in Oman, three seafarers perished in strikes on merchant ships amid the conflict days, and another citizen was listed as missing. “Late [on Thursday] night, we learned of the tragic death of an Indian national in an attack in Riyadh on March 18.” “We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased,” Aseem Mahajan, secretary (Gulf) in the external affairs ministry, said during a media briefing. The Indian embassy in Riyadh is communicating with his family and working with local authorities to facilitate the prompt repatriation of the body, Mahajan added. Additional details were unavailable, and sources close to the situation indicated that the Indian national died in Iran’s missile and drone attacks on Riyadh. Dozens of Indians, such as workers and seafarers, have sustained injuries in strikes across multiple Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, and Iraq. The Indian government has prioritized the safety and security of 10 million Indian nationals residing in West Asian countries through its recent outreach to the leadership of these states. Mahajan stated that 15 Indian crew members from the US-owned oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, recently attacked near Basra, Iraq, are scheduled to return home via Saudi Arabia. Another Indian crew member from the same ship was killed, and Mahajan stated that arrangements are underway to bring his body back to India. Since the conflict started on February 28, around 300,000 people have returned to India from West Asia. On Friday, UAE airlines ran 90 flights to India, with additional flights from Oman and Saudi Arabia. 

 Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi stated on Friday that India could have taken a significant moral stance in peace initiatives if it had remained neutral during the US-Israel assault on Iran. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi spoke at an event held at Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad on Friday, March 20. Muu teave: 2011. aasta lõpus oli ta ühinenud Talibani sõjalise nõukoguga. “What did (PM Narendra) Modi do? He positioned himself in the corner between (US President Donald) Trump and (Israel’s PM Benjamin) Netanyahu. “If you had remained neutral, your words might have carried some weight,” he told a gathering in his hometown, according to news agency ANI. He also criticized another South Asian country, Pakistan, for its alleged support of Israel. Our neighbor Pakistan is also like Israel’s younger brother. These two nations will never allow their neighbors to live in peace. Pakistan conducted bombings in Afghanistan, resulting in 400 deaths.