By Mohd Naushad Khan
NEW DELHI: Amid rapidly shifting geopolitical equations in West Asia following the Iran-Israel-US confrontation, strategic experts, former diplomats and military veterans on Monday called for India to adopt a more proactive and balanced regional strategy, warning that continued instability in the Gulf could directly impact India’s energy security, trade routes and diaspora interests.
The discussion took place during a high-level symposium on “India’s West Asia Relations after the Iran-Israel/US War,” organised by the IDDF Research Foundation at the Constitution Club of India in the national capital. The event brought together senior policymakers, defence experts and foreign representatives to assess the implications of the ongoing crisis on India’s foreign policy and strategic interests.
Former ambassador K.P. Fabian chaired the session, which featured former Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Arvinder Singh Lamba, former Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs and ex-ambassador Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Jindal School of International Affairs dean Dr Sreeram Chaulia and foreign policy expert Col Rajeev Agarwal.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Ausaf Sayeed said India’s role in the current Middle East crisis should not be viewed through the lens of prestige politics but through the practical limitations of its foreign policy architecture. He argued that India has historically not acted as an international mediator except during the era of the Non-Aligned Movement under Jawaharlal Nehru, and therefore lacks an institutional framework for conflict mediation.
“At present, the debate is not whether India should mediate for prestige, but whether it has developed the diplomatic mechanisms and strategic capacity to play such a role,” he observed.
Sayeed, however, noted what he described as a “mid-course correction” in India’s foreign policy during the ongoing conflict and said any effort that contributes to peace in the region should be welcomed, irrespective of which country undertakes the mediation.
Speaking on the regional dynamics, Sayeed said the Shia-Sunni divide between Saudi Arabia and Iran is often overstated. Referring to the 2023 rapprochement between Riyadh and Tehran brokered by China, he said both countries continue to maintain active diplomatic engagement despite tensions in the region. According to him, Saudi Arabia has handled the present crisis cautiously and is exploring confidence-building measures, including discussions around a possible no-war understanding with Iran.
He stressed that Gulf countries remain deeply focused on economic diversification and development, making prolonged military conflict contrary to their long-term national interests.
On the Israel-Palestine issue, Sayeed argued that the roots of the conflict extend far beyond the events of October 7, 2023. He described Israel’s military response in Gaza as “brutal” and said it has drawn widespread international criticism. Drawing comparisons with the Iraq war, he cautioned against military campaigns based on “imaginary threats,” asserting that no conclusive evidence has emerged to prove Iran was preparing an imminent attack on Israel.
Sayeed further warned that instability in the Gulf region carries serious implications for India. He pointed to threats to oil supplies, fertilizer imports, industrial production, maritime trade and the safety of millions of Indians living and working in West Asia. He also highlighted the strategic importance of projects such as Chabahar Port, Duqm Port and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), describing them as critical to India’s long-term connectivity and trade ambitions.
Calling for what he termed “new strategic thinking,” Sayeed said India must move beyond being a passive observer and gradually build an independent mediation and crisis-management capacity. He also advocated energy diversification, stronger mechanisms for diaspora protection and a nuanced diplomatic approach that carefully balances India’s ties with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iran, Turkey, Israel and emerging regional blocs.
Lt Gen Arvinder Singh Lamba, meanwhile, focused on the military and technological dimensions of the conflict, warning that the West Asian strategic landscape has fundamentally changed.
He described the ongoing confrontation as a battle between “extreme powers,” with Israel and the United States possessing overwhelming technological superiority while Iran continues to demonstrate resilience through asymmetric warfare capabilities.
“The ceasefire remains extremely fragile and the possibility of escalation cannot be ruled out. Any renewed confrontation could pull additional countries into the conflict,” he said.
Lamba argued that modern warfare has increasingly become “contactless,” driven by advanced military technologies including drones, missile systems, surveillance platforms and precision navigation networks. Referring to the use of Iranian drones and anti-ship systems, he noted that technologies such as China’s Baidao navigation system have enhanced targeting accuracy even under changing weather conditions and against moving targets.
He pointed out that even highly advanced American defence systems like THAAD faced operational challenges during the conflict, demonstrating that smaller states can still pose significant threats through asymmetric military strategies.
The former Vice Chief also criticised political interference in military decision-making, saying many political leaders fail to understand the realities of warfare and risk pushing the world toward dangerous confrontations.
According to Lamba, the impact of the conflict extends far beyond battlefield casualties and has serious implications for global oil markets, maritime trade routes, energy security and international economic stability. He particularly highlighted the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz, calling it one of the most sensitive strategic chokepoints affecting countries like India that depend heavily on Gulf energy supplies and regional shipping lanes.
Lamba also said conventional diplomacy appears to have weakened during the crisis, making military diplomacy increasingly significant. He argued that military-to-military communication channels often remain functional even when political relations deteriorate. Referring to India’s defence engagement model, he cited examples of sustained military communication with Pakistan during periods of heightened tension to prevent escalation.
He added that India could play an important post-war role through balanced engagement, peace-building initiatives and credible military deterrence. According to him, several countries in West Asia are gradually diversifying away from exclusive dependence on the United States and are increasingly viewing India, China and Turkey as emerging strategic partners.
The symposium also witnessed participation from diplomats and representatives of countries including Syria, Tunisia, Belgium and Oman, reflecting growing international interest in India’s evolving role in the changing geopolitical landscape of West Asia.
Courtesy: India Tomorrow
