New Delhi, Feb. 20: India is keeping a close watch on the situation in Libya and Bahrain.

The foreign ministry said all 18,000 Indians in Libya were safe but cautioned Indian nationals on travel to the North African country.

The Indian embassy in Tripoli has set up a 24-hour control room for information or assistance. The phone numbers are +218 213 409 288, +218 213 409 289 and +218 213 409 284.

Bahrain has 3.5 lakh Indians, almost 30 per cent of the about 11 lakh population. If violence escalates, Delhi may have to organise evacuations -- a daunting task given the number of people involved.

Nearly half of the Indians living in Bahrain are from Kerala. Some Gujaratis who control gold trade also live in Bahrain.

Bahrain threatens to bring Arab-Iranian and Shia-Sunni conflicts in West Asia to the fore and has the potential to push the region into a phase of uncertainty. A crisis in the region will impinge on India’s energy security as it relies heavily for its oil needs on West Asian countries.