Page 12 - The Indian EYE 041726

Op-Ed APRIL 17, 2026 | The Indian Eye 12

INDIAN INTEREST

Why India Must be Actively

Involved in Iran Peace Process

As others step in, New Delhi’s silence raises hard questions about leadership, interests and timing

SHOBHAN SAXENA

here is a rare disquiet in India’s
strategic discourse. The imme-
Tdiate trigger is uncomfortable:
Pakistan appearing to take the lead
in diplomatic efforts around the Iran
crisis. For many in India — includ-
ing sections of Narendra Modi’s own
support base — that optics alone has
been enough to provoke outrage. But Reports indicate that Iran has sought to raise the issue within BRICS, even looking to India to play a role in de-escalation (ANI file photo)
outrage, while understandable, is be-
ing misdirected. The problem is not across the Gulf. Their livelihoods are Yet, there has been little visible move- ities when its own economy is on the
that Pakistan is active. The problem is tied to regional stability. Any pro- ment from New Delhi to leverage this line. Strategic partnerships matter,
that India is not. longed conflict in West Asia risks job forum as a peace platform. but they are not substitutes for stra-
For a country that is the world’s losses, delayed wages, or forced re- At a time when global governance tegic autonomy. If the crisis threat-
largest democracy and aspires to be turns — all of which would hit India’s structures are fragmenting, such plat- ens India’s energy security, trade
a leading global power, absence in a remittance inflows. These remittanc- forms offer rare spaces for dialogue. flows, and diaspora welfare, then
major regional crisis — one that di- es are not abstract numbers; they sus- Leadership here would not just serve India has both the right and the re-
rectly affects its core interests — is tain households, drive consumption India’s interests; it would reinforce its sponsibility to act.
difficult to justify. India should have and stabilize India’s external accounts. claim to global relevance. None of this is to suggest that
been at the center of peace initiatives, Trade too is taking a hit. The Gulf Instead, India appears con- diplomacy is easy. Engaging in a vol-
not watching from the sidelines as is a crucial market for Indian exports strained — perhaps by strategic cau- atile conflict involving Iran requires
others fill the vacuum. — from food to manufactured goods. tion and its complex relationships careful balancing. It risks friction with
Because no major economy is Shipping disruptions, rising insurance with the United States and Israel. partners and demands diplomatic
feeling the tremors of this conflict costs and uncertainty in logistics are But that raises a more fundamen- capital. But leadership is not about
quite like India. already affecting flows. The longer tal question: whose interests should avoiding risk; it is about managing it
The most immediate impact is the conflict persists, the deeper the guide Indian policy? in pursuit of national interest.
energy. Any disruption involving Iran damage to India’s exports. U.S. President Donald Trump There is still time for India to step
inevitably reverberates through the In other words, India is not a pe- has reportedly indicated that the in — bilaterally, through backchan-
Strait of Hormuz. For India, which is ripheral stakeholder. It is one of the United States is relatively insulated nel diplomacy, or via platforms like
heavily dependent on imported ener- most affected parties. from disruptions in the Strait of Hor- BRICS. Its historical ties with Iran, its
gy, even partial disruptions translate This really makes New Delhi’s dip- muz. Whether framed as confidence credibility in the Global South, and
into higher prices, supply uncertain- lomatic restraint all the more puzzling. or indifference, the implication is its growing global stature position it
ties and a cascading domestic crisis. There is also a missed multilater- clear — Washington does not face uniquely to play a constructive role.
Refiners are running around desper- al opportunity. India currently holds the same stakes as energy-importing In geopolitics, vacuums do not
ately and India’s growth projections the presidency of BRICS, a platform economies like India. If anything, it last. If India does not occupy the
are coming under strain. that includes both Iran and other in- underscores a harsh reality: the U.S. space, others will — regardless of
This is not a distant geopolitical fluential global players. Reports indi- can afford strategic detachment in how that looks from New Delhi. The
contest; it is a direct economic threat. cate that Iran has sought to raise the ways India cannot. anger, then, should not be about Pa-
Then there is the human dimen- issue within BRICS, even looking to India’s foreign policy cannot be kistan’s activism. It should be about
sion. Millions of Indians live and work India to play a role in de-escalation. an echo of American or Israeli prior- India’s hesitation.

www.TheIndianEYE.com