'Stay updated, don't believe rumours': Indian Embassy in Qatar issues advisory

Doha [Qatar], June 7 (ANI): In wake of the ongoing 'Gulf crisis', the Indian Embassy in Qatar on Wednesday issued an advisory and assured that the political developments are not something which should worry Indian citizens here. In the advisory, the Indian citizens living in Doha have been assured that the embassy is monitoring the situation closely and is in touch with the Qatar authorities to ensure safety of the Indian nationals living there. "The Qatari authorities have conveyed that they will take all necessary steps to ensure that normal life, including supplies of food items, is not affected," stated the advisory. With the cancellation of several flights, the embassy has also requested the citizens to contact their travel providers for advice on modification to their travel arrangement and also to remain alerts for further developments. Indian nationals have also been advised to update themselves and not believe in rumours. Recently, six Arab countries including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, as well as the Western-recognised governments of Yemen and Libya, abruptly cut diplomatic ties with Qatar, after accusing it of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamist political movement that allegedly supports pro-Iran militias, and funding terror activities. The Middle Eastern countries were later joined by the Indian Ocean island nation of The Maldives. Earlier, a Saudi press agency statement said the move was necessary because of "grave violations being committed by the authorities in Doha over the past years in secret and public," including giving shelter to various terrorist groups, some of them backed by Iran. Qatar has maintained its diplomatic clout in part by being the home of U.S. Central Command and the U.S's largest air base in the region and hosting branches of prestigious Western universities. (ANI)