As Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Kuwait for a historic bilateral visit (the first by an Indian PM in more than four decades), we sat down with Ambassador K. P. Fabian to discuss Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait on 2nd of August 1990, which kickstarted the first major international crisis in the post-Cold War era.
As Joint Secretary (Gulf) at the time, Amb. Fabian coordinated Operation Ajay, which facilitated the repatriation of 1,76,000 Indian nationals from Kuwait and remains the largest evacuation ever undertaken in aviation history.
Understandably, the safety of its large diaspora in Kuwait was a key driver in India’s approach to the Gulf Crisis and Delhi’s objectives were aided by its decision not to “condemn” Saddam Hussein’s invasion, despite considerable international pressure at the time.
In a candid interview, Amb. Fabian recalls the mammoth evacuation effort.
Thank you so much, Ambassador Fabian, for this interview. Perhaps we can start with a little bit about yourself and your storied career as an Indian diplomat.
