West Asia crisis far from over despite ceasefire talk, India prepared for impact: Rajnath Singh

LUCKNOW: Union defence minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday said that despite formal discussions around a ceasefire in the ongoing West Asia crisis, the ground situation suggests that the conflict is far from over.His remark came while diplomatic efforts to ease tensions were underway, with US vice president JD Vance and Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in Pakistan for peace negotiations aimed at de-escalating the crisis. Addressing a gathering at Lucknow, Singh highlighted the continued volatility in the region and its broader global implications.He noted that the crisis, involving key players such as Israel, the United States and several Gulf countries, has created uncertainty that affects not just the region but the entire world. “There has been formal talk of a ceasefire, but the actual situation on the ground indicates that the crisis is not yet over,” Singh said, underlining the need for vigilance.Amid these concerns, Singh sought to reassure citizens about India’s preparedness to handle any fallout, particularly in the energy sector. He pointed out that the World Bank has expressed confidence in India’s ability to manage potential disruptions. “The World Bank has observed that India is fully capable of handling any potential energy crisis arising from global geopolitical tensions,” he said.The minister added that the government has taken proactive steps to monitor and respond to the evolving situation. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has constituted a Group of Ministers under his chairmanship to assess risks and coordinate responses across departmentsSingh also drew attention to the broader impact of such conflicts on global supply chains, including disruptions in energy flows, shipping routes and access to critical resources. He urged people to remain calm and avoid misinformation, recalling how the country had successfully navigated challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Calling the West Asia crisis a global challenge that affects every nation, Singh said India is not ignoring the risks, but confronting them with preparedness, discipline and determination.