PM Modi congratulates Armenian PM on electoral win, thanks him for evacuation of Indians stranded in Iran
New Delhi, June 25
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday held a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.
PM Modi congratulated Pashinyan on his party's victory in the recently held Parliamentary elections in Armenia.
In a post on X, he said, "Earlier today, I was delighted to receive a phone call from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Congratulated him and his party on their victory in the recently held Parliamentary elections in Armenia. Thanked him for facilitating the evacuation of Indian nationals stranded in Iran following the recent developments in West Asia. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to further strengthen our warm and multifaceted partnership across key sectors, including trade, defence, technology and people-to-people ties. We look forward to working closely together to take India-Armenia relations to new heights."
Office of the Prime Minister of Armenia, in a statement, said that PM Modi once again congratulated Pashinyan on his victory in the parliamentary elections in Armenia and wished him success in his future activities.
Pashinyan thanked him for the congratulations and, in turn, congratulated PM Narendra Modi on becoming the longest-serving elected Prime Minister in India's history, wishing him new success for the welfare and development of India, the statement said.
The interlocutors emphasized the importance of the continuous development of friendly relations between Armenia and India and noted with satisfaction the positive dynamics of bilateral cooperation. The intensification of political dialogue was emphasized, as well as the expansion of cooperation in the economy, high technologies, education, culture and other areas of mutual interest, as per the statement.
The Prime Ministers touched upon the issues of cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats, discussed steps aimed at further deepening relations in a number of areas of the Armenia-India agenda.
The parties also attached importance to the organization of high-level mutual visits in order to further strengthen cooperation between the two countries and push launch new initiatives.
Earlier on April 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that 2,361 individuals have been successfully repatriated to India since the commencement of the conflict in West Asia.
"Since the outbreak of the conflict, we have helped bring 2,361 Indian citizens safely from Iran to India. Of these, 2,060 came via Armenia and 301 via Azerbaijan. This 2,361 includes 1,041 Indian students, as well as three foreigners--one from Bangladesh, one from Sri Lanka, and one from Guyana. We have also helped three of them. I had told you before that nearly 7,500 Indian nationals were present in Iran at that time," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Honestly, while this is good news, I wish we saw more concrete outcomes from such calls. The evacuation was necessary, but it took a conflict to highlight our citizens' vulnerabilities. Also, Armenia is a small country - what tangible economic or defence benefits are we getting? Let's not just celebrate phone calls; we need results in trade and technology sectors.
As an Indian who works in international relations, I see this as a smart move. Armenia is a gateway to the Caucasus and Europe. The fact that they helped evacuate 2060 Indians via their territory shows mutual trust. PM Modi's congratulatory call also reinforces India's stance on democracy. Well done, MEA! 👏
Interesting to see India's growing ties with Armenia. The evacuation from Iran is a humanitarian success. As an American, I appreciate how India balances its relationships across the region. PM Modi's longevity as leader is impressive - 10 years and counting. Hope this partnership brings stability to the Caucasus.
Yaar, but what about the Indians still in Iran? 7,500 were there, and only 2,361 evacuated. Why not more? And the three foreigners helped - Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Guyana - that's nice, but where's our focus on our own? Also, why via Armenia and not directly? Need better planning. Still, good gesture overall. 🤔
This is classic Indian diplomacy - soft power at its best. Congratulations and thanks in one call. The evacuation via Armenia shows we have a reliable partner. And PM Modi becoming longest-serving elected PM is no
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.