India remains committed to addressing the well-being of its citizens abroad and ensuring that Indian nationals are not exploited in foreign conflicts
India is actively negotiating with Russia to secure the release of approximately 20 Indian nationals misled into enlisting in the Russian military. This issue, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally raised with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has seen significant progress, with 85 Indians already released. Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming participation in the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, further underscores India’s commitment to diplomatic engagement on this matter.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri provided updates on the situation during a media briefing on Monday, affirming that the Indian and Russian governments are collaborating to facilitate the safe return of these individuals.
Misri highlighted that India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has been closely coordinating with Russian counterparts in the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense to expedite the discharge process. Tragically, the bodies of Indian nationals who lost their lives in the conflict have been returned to their families.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, addressing the issue earlier in August, underscored that these individuals were likely misled by false promises of employment, only to later find themselves deployed in active military roles. Jaishankar conveyed his concern, stating that the government takes these cases very seriously and is committed to ensuring the safe return of all affected Indian nationals.
This diplomatic issue has seen sustained attention at the highest levels, with Prime Minister Modi and Jaishankar raising concerns directly with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and President Putin during multiple visits to Moscow. In response, President Putin assured India that any Indian citizens in Russian military service under such circumstances would be promptly discharged.
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Kazan for the BRICS Summit is expected to further strengthen India-Russia diplomatic relations, especially in light of India’s longstanding commitment to multilateralism and global security. The 16th BRICS Summit, themed “Strengthening Multilateralism for Just Global Development and Security,” will offer India an opportunity to underscore its dedication to these principles, building on recent BRICS expansions and India’s ongoing contributions in areas like economic growth, sustainable development, and governance reform.
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