This is a reckless act and severe provocation by @CENTCOM Two Indian seafarers died and one reported missing after an attack on oil tanker Settebello by U.S. forces, off the coast of Oman, on Wednesday (June 10, 2026). The Indian government had earlier said the three were missing. The two dead Indian sailors have been identified as Aditya Sharma, deck cadet, and Shivanand Chaurasiya, engine fitter. Chief engineer Patnala Suresh is still missing. Twenty-one Indian seafarers were rescued from the vessel that was hit by U.S. “precision munitions”. The U.S. Central Command said the ship “violated the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran.” What kind of “precise munitions” are the morons at @CENTCOM using for ‘disabling a ship’ that has caused the death of two Indian sailors. The Engine room of a ship is always manned and hitting it with a missile is nothing short of a premeditated murder. Matter of great shame for US forces carrying out these disproportionate strikes against an unarmed merchant vessel. India meanwhile summoned the U.S. Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Jason Meeks and lodged a “strong protest” after the attack. India should also summon the US Defence Advisor in New Delhi to convey its displeasure.

I can see that the 'do something' lobby is in full force, among the politicians. What EXACTLY do you want India to do, pray tell. Bomb an American ship? throw out a few Americans? The harsh facts are these. That ship was not legally your property; it had no business being there. you lost lives, and the govt has acted exactly as it should and to the extent that it can. Beyond that, for gods sake, help the families with information, and all assistance locally. HAs a single opposition leader taken the trouble to find out how the wife of that sailor is doing? a little practical help and a little less posturing please.

I can see that the 'do something' lobby is in full force, among the politicians. What EXACTLY do you want India to do, pray tell. Bomb an American ship? throw out a few Americans? The harsh facts are these. That ship was not legally your property; it had no business being there. you lost lives, and the govt has acted exactly as it should and to the extent that it can. Beyond that, for gods sake, help the families with information, and all assistance locally. HAs a single opposition leader taken the trouble to find out how the wife of that sailor is doing? a little practical help and a little less posturing please.

अमेरिकी हमलों में तीन भारतीय नाविकों की हत्या के चंद दिन बाद - न अफ़सोस, न माफ़ी। उल्टा, अमेरिका ने आदेश देना जारी रखा है। उनके शब्द पढ़िए: “अमेरिकी सेना के आदेश तुरंत मानें।” कोई उल्लंघन “बर्दाश्त नहीं किया जाएगा।” एक आज़ाद देश इस तरह की भाषा कभी नहीं सहेगा। लेकिन हमारे Compromised PM? चुप। एक आज्ञाकारी नौकर की तरह सुनते हैं, और आदेश मान लेते हैं। Compromised PM देश के सम्मान की रक्षा नहीं करेगा - क्योंकि जो देश का अपमान करते हैं, वो उन्हीं के वश में हैं।

Hrs after @Indemb_Muscat No boat has been arrived till now. Communicating the family is one side but taking out the mortal of late Brother Nishant from MT Celestial must on priority. @dgshipping_IN @MEAIndia @OMAN_MSC #MTCelestial

A young Indian seafarer’s life cost just 10 Omani Riyal (~₹2,473) — the medical visa/evacuation fee available in an hour off Duqm. Nishanth Uirthanathan (35) died on shadow tanker MT Celestial due to shipowner negligence. Delays in help & failure to arrange mortal remains show clear intent. Questions also for Omani authorities. RIP Nishanth. Demand accountability @Indemb_Muscat @shipmin_india @OMAN_MSC @PMOIndia @DrSJaishankar

#MTCelestial (off Oman coast) 35-year-old Second Officer Nishanth Uirthanathan (Tamil Nadu) passed away on June 11 after falling seriously ill. His body has remained onboard for over 2 days with no proper refrigeration. Crew is using cold water bottles in a desperate attempt to slow decomposition — a horrifying and health-risking situation. Despite repeated distress calls, timely medical evacuation was reportedly delayed amid regional tensions. FSUI and the captain are urgently demanding body preservation/repatriation, crew support, and full investigation into the response failures. RIP Nishanth. Deepest condolences to his family and crew. Authorities must act immediately. @Indemb_Muscat @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar @shipmin_india @dgshipping_IN @IMOHQ @ITFglobalunion @ilo @OMAN_MSC

My exclusive: A new problem for India is taking shape in the US America’s political parties are raising concerns on changes to India’s FCRA law US Christian groups argue the changes will damage Christian charities in India receiving foreign funds hindustantimes.com/india-new…

To put it bluntly, since 2017, India has chosen the worst of the available paths. By aligning itself with the US, it has obtained almost none of the resources that would strengthen its strategic autonomy and has instead grown more dependent. By confronting China, it has lost manufacturing capital and technology that could once have been acquired effortlessly. Counter-intuitively, these flows of capital and technology—though they appeared to deepen dependence—were in fact the essential foundation for Atmanirbhar Bharat. India now finds itself stranded between the two powers and exposed as collateral damage, as Marco Rubio puts it, in their strategic contest. This has left it vulnerable to American pressure on multiple fronts—tariffs, trade in Russian oil, killings in the Strait of Hormuz, and access to advanced AI models. Washington did all the above with little concern for India’s basic dignity or core interests. The roots of this grand misjudgement lie in India’s long-held belief that the US would always remain dominant and that the safest course was therefore to stand with the strong. That assumption is now being questioned even inside the Trump administration, throwing India’s strategic planning into disarray and leaving it without credible contingency plans. Three uncomfortable realities have become clear: 1) an America gripped by anxiety is unlikely to offer its partners meaningful support; it is rather more inclined to treat partners as expendable assets to be drawn upon when needed. Yes, India is simply seen as the bloodbag. 2) The path dependence created by long-term reliance on American financial systems, software ecosystems and geopolitical arrangements has become a potent instrument of leverage precisely because India has few realistic alternatives. 3) for reasons of elite izzatl and face-saving, Indian policymakers have so far refused to undertake the necessary recognitive rerouting—above all, to seriously contemplate the possibility that China may be prevailing in the broader contest and to adjust its choices accordingly.

This calculated attack by the U.S. on Indian maritime crew and assets must not be looked at in isolation, nor forgiven. The @MEAIndia must stop playing soft and go past mere acts of démarches by summoning U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Jason Meeks. India must execute concrete 360 degree actions that deliver results: 1. Scale-up Indian Naval Operation Sankalp further with additional assets and their deployment for proactive escorts, coordinated with Oman; 2. Condition advancement of key Indo-US defence pacts, logistics agreements, and energy ties (American crude/LNG) on binding and stringent de-confliction protocols protecting Indian Merchant Naval mariners and seafarers; 3. File a detailed note verbale invoking UNCLOS Articles 87 & 94 (freedom of navigation on high seas & flag State duties), and demand American adherence to San Remo Manual principles on neutral merchant vessels; 4. India should also call for an @IMOHQ-led international inquiry into the U.S. strikes on Indian-crewed merchant vessels, as it is unacceptable for a non-party state to suffer direct consequences from actions carried out under American unilateral and thoughtless enforcements in international waters; 5. Tighten the Indian enforcements and high-risk advisories via @dgshipping_IN on the protocols’ compliance and reporting front. Also, formally demand U.S. binding contributions joint Indo-US investigation into the American Settebello strike; 6. Raise these incidents across key multilateral forums calling out American unilateral actions impacting neutral states’ Merchant shipping. The U.S. treats its unilateral naval blockade in international waters as if their exclusive enforcement zone, exercising unregulated control with zero accountability, whilst outsourcing resultant risks of their callous acts to third-country neutrals like India bearing the brunt on repeated occasions. Merchant Naval officers and vessels are India’s strategic assets. Indian “summons” must now deliver tangible and visible pressure on the U.S. through diplomacy, naval action, economic leverage, and international law. @DrSJaishankar @narendramodi @PMOIndia @dgshipping_IN @SeaSkipper

India doesn't need to lead the world in building the most advanced AI models. But it must lead in ensuring benefits of AI are widely shared. @rvenk and I have an op-ed in The @EconomicTimes economictimes.indiatimes.com…

Violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated: US Secretary of State Rubio to EAM Dr Jaishankar during ystyd talks after killing of Indian sailors

#ViksitBharat #NewAndamans is emerging as a key strategic zone, with upcoming #Oil block auctions and #Thailand’s Land Bridge project drawing fresh attention to its #maritime significance and reshaping region’s geostrategic importance.