West Asia Crisis – India can play a sobering role

 

West Asia Crisis – India can play a sobering role

It is three weeks for the ongoing West Asia crisis which has already become a regional conflict with a potential to expand with global ramifications. The spokesperson of MEA has rightly said, ‘It has been testing time, not just for us, but for entire global community.’ The conflict in India’s extended neighborhood with which we have historic and civilizational relations, where more than 10 million
Indians are living for their bread and butter that remit considerable amounts back home, from where India sources a large volumes of energy needs, Iran’s geo-strategic importance for security and connectivity, adversely affect not only its economy but also energy security and also spirituous-cultural bonds; India being a second largest Muslim population in the world. Obviously, India has a firm stake in regional stability, safe transit and uninterrupted supply chains. The West Asian Crisis tends to negate all this which in turn is a matter of concern and worry not only to India but to the entire world.

 Though in the beginning, it was felt, India took a somewhat lop-sided approach to stand with US and Israel ignoring its civilizational and strategically important relations with Iran. But with the fast changing scenario, India, it seems, has come around to resort to the dictum of ‘Strategic Autonomy’ with a pragmatic approach to contain and end the conflict. As the conflict continues to evolve and tend to

expand, India’s approach should be of a careful balancing act — maintaining engagement with all sides while advocating restraint, de-escalation and a return to diplomacy as the only sustainable pathway out of the crisis. For India, whose stakes in the region are vast—ranging from heavy energy dependence to a large expatriate community and expanding diplomatic partnerships—such turbulence inevitably tests the resilience and coherence of its foreign policy. A Security and Defense Analyst, Harsh Pant of Observer Research Foundation (ORF)has written in one of his articles on the subject - India's Strategic Balancing in the Middle East which explains the Indian position in its perspective, “For several decades, India has pursued a strategy that can best be described as calibrated multi-alignment. Rather than locking itself into rigid blocs, New Delhi has cultivated parallel relationships with Iran, the Gulf monarchies, Israel, and the US. This diplomatic balancing act has often been portrayed as difficult to sustain, yet moments of crisis tend to demonstrate its enduring logic. The present conflict is no exception. India’s response has been measured and deliberate: urging restraint from all sides, safeguarding its economic interests, and maintaining open channels with every actors involved. In doing so, New Delhi has sought to protect both its strategic autonomy and its long-term interests in the region.”

India’s Middle East policy is gradually maturing. The region is no longer viewed merely through the lens of energy imports but as a complex strategic landscape where economic, political, and security interests intersect. The resent crisis reinforces the value of maintaining diverse partnerships and flexible diplomacy. India has

attempted to strike a diplomatic posture of cautious neutrality. New Delhi has emphasized restraint, dialogue, and the need to avoid further escalation. Such positioning allows India to remain engaged with all parties while avoiding the perception of alignment with any particular camp. In a region where rivalries are deeply entrenched, this balanced posture enhances India’s credibility as a responsible stakeholder rather than a partisan actor. It seemed in the start that India had faltered in, seemingly, aligning with the US and Israel particularly not sending a condolence message to Iran on the assassination of their Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In the fourth week of the conflict, if I go by the information and news available in the public domain, no early end to the ongoing crisis is insight. The staggering costs of the war is not only telling on the economy of the US and Israel and also of Iran but also of the entire world. The oil and gas importing countries like India are impacted greatly resulting in upsetting the entire spectrum of their national interests. It was reported that by now US had lost military hardware to the tune of more than 250 billion in the ongoing conflict. There is wide spread devastation in Israel, Iran, Lebanon and also in the Middle East. The conflict has to end immediately.

India needs to be proactive in this regard with credible credentials of policy of ‘Multi-alignment’ and of ‘Strategic Autonomy’ and also of ‘Multi-polar World’. It is a matter of gratification to note that Indian leadership is not oblivious of the emerging ground realities and is in touch with their counterparts and interlocutors not only with the countries directly involved in the conflict that is the US, Israel and

Iran but also countries of the Middle East which has become the theater of the conflict with Iran’s specific and strategic approach and policy to attack US bases in these neighboring countries which was not expected, it seems, by the US and Israel and other stakeholders. It goes without saying that any effort and approach to end the war needs support and understanding of Russia and China.

As the conflict is getting fierce by the every passing day, immediate action to engage not only the varying parties at war but also all the West Asian countries particularly of the Arabian Gulf and also major centers of power like Russia and China is required. As suggested by countries like Finland and others, India is considered and seems to be an acceptable mediator and interlocutor for the purpose.  India is in

touch with the countries of the Middle East on one side and also of Iran on the other bilaterally and also s the rotating Chair of the BRICS. Though the rhetoric of boastful statements by the US, Israel and Iran is in the air yet, it seems, all the actual players are tired and want to end the conflict. India should, with a view to pursue its own interest of securing its energy security and regional peace in the immediate future, raise its hand to help and facilitate early end to the hostilities through diplomatic dexterity and strategy. Obviously, as it is said in Punjabi – Chor Nu Maran To Changa Onnu Bhajaona (It is better to make the rouge flee rather than beating him).  US, it seems, require a safe passage to leave with perceived victory. Similarly, Iran would be interested in ending the conflict with the respect and dignity. President of Iran, in his telephonic talk with PM Narendra Modi and Iranian FM in his conversation with

EAM Jaishankar have already spelled out the broader parameters of ‘New West Asia Security Framework’ of ending the conflict. With India’s calibrated but proactive diplomatic outreach, PM Modi had stressed restraint, dialogue and the protection of civilians. The Iranian side, said to have given three key proposals: i) creation of a regional security architecture led by West Asian nations without external interference; ii) immediate halt to ongoing military actions by the US and Israel along with guarantees against their recurrence; and iii) call for BRICS (under India’s current rotating presidency) to play an independent role in stopping hostilities and ensuring regional and global stability. Iran is also willing willingness to engage in dialogue and verification mechanisms regarding its nuclear programme, while rejecting allegations that it sought to develop nuclear weapons.

With this, it seems, India has a definite sobering role to play in ending the West Asian Crisis before it gets late – diplomacy and dialogue is the only way. But two things remain to be addressed i) It is time to clip the wings of Israel who has increasing acted as a ‘super-cop’ in the region. It must be done forthwith – the sooner the better. The willful and mindless assassinations of political, military and intellectual leadership in Iran should be treated as ‘war crimes’ and dealt with accordingly. In the proposed new West Asia dispensation, both Palestine and Israel should be recognized as two nations to hit the problem in its head and ii) UNO, a toothless digger which has outlived its utility and relevance, should be disbanded forthwith. A new International Institution needs to be established in commensuration with the new emerging realities to address the issues of peace and security and also equitable world order.

India, the land of Buddha and Gandhi, should register the message of peace and harmony midst the solemn festivities of Eid, Navrattri and Navroz as Allamah Iqbal asserted in one of his poetic deliveries:

हुवैदा आज अपने ज़ख़्म-ए-पिन्हाँ कर के छोड़ूँगा

लहू रो रो के महफ़िल को गुलिस्ताँ कर के छोड़ूँगा

I will surely exhibit all my hidden wounds today
I will surely change assembly to a garden with blood‐mixed tears

जलाना है मुझे हर शम-ए-दिल को सोज़-ए-पिन्हाँ से

तिरी तारीक रातों में चराग़ाँ कर के छोड़ूँगा

I have to light every heart’s candle with hidden pathos
I will surely create bright illumination in your darkness