New Delhi, April 21 -- The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday highlighted one of the largest voluntary repatriations and travel management exercises in recent times as India prioritises the safety of its 1-crore-strong diaspora in the Gulf.

In a significant briefing on the evolving security situation in West Asia, the MEA announced that over 11,61,000 passengers have travelled from the region to India since February 28, 2026.

The update, provided by Aseem R Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf), during an inter-ministerial briefing, highlighted the successful return of 12 Indian seafarers who had been stranded in Iraq.

The group arrived in Mumbai yesterday following the strategic reopening of Iraq's airspace. The Indian Embas...