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News18
17-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
Opinion: India Has Got The Balance Right In West Asia
Last Updated: In the Israel-Iran fight to the brink of cataclysm, neutrality is not a byword for indecisiveness Is not picking a side also counted as taking a stand? Diplomatic mandarins in New Delhi certainly think so. That's why they have goaded Prime Minister Narendra Modi to say nothing more than call for 'de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy" after U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to step into the Israel-Iran war. Beyond the ionic column-lined corridors of their fief in Raisina Hill, the government's foreign policy wonks are having a terrible time convincing India's irate Opposition that India's neutrality is not a moral compromise. That in the Israel-Iran fight to the brink of cataclysm, neutrality is not a byword for indecisiveness. The Congress party should know better. It pioneered the art of sitting on the fence when it institutionalised Non-Alignment during the Cold War years. The doctrine was simple – India must not be drawn into any one camp. If strategic autonomy was considered a tactical virtue to navigate a bipolar Cold War world then it should be considered a sacrosanct precept in today's fluid multipolar world. Indeed, the global tectonic plates of entente and détente straddle the most fluctuous diplomatic terrain in recent history. Nowhere is this slipperiness more apparent than in West Asia. Here, Iran's own neighbors – sworn to Islamic solidarity – aren't ready to give it unconditional support. In fact, they have, it could be argued, betrayed Iran. Consider the facts. Lebanon has blocked the depleted Iranian jihadist proxy Hezbollah from acting against Israel. Syria's current potentate Ahmed Al-Sharaa, after toppling the pro-Iran Assad regime, has been negotiating a peace deal to recognise Israel. Jordan directly intercepts Iranian missiles. The Saudis provided key intelligence against Iran and overflight rights to U.S. warplanes. And last but by no means the least, Pakistan, in the ultimate show of doctrinal elasticity, recommended Trump for Nobel Prize and offered the U.S. use of airbase and actionable intelligence. The only reason for listing this litany of betrayals is to demonstrate that in a landscape pockmarked by chicanery, not picking a side is not an abdication. It is strategic self-preservation. And in diplomacy, that, too, can be an elevated position. About the Author Rahul Shivshankar Rahul Shivshankar is Consulting Editor at Network18. He tweets at @RShivshankar view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
News18
06-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'From Nehru To Sonia': BJP Mounts Offensive On Congress Over Fight Against Terror
Last Updated: On the issue of Pakistan, several Congress members have made provocative statements. Among them are Ajay Rai and Charanjeet Singh Channi. Despite multiple directives from the Congress party leadership, there is little evidence that discipline has been instilled in the party. On the issue of Pakistan, several Congress members have made provocative statements. Among them are Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress chief, and Charanjeet Singh Channi, former Punjab Chief Minister and Member of Parliament. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has responded aggressively, reminding the Congress of past mistakes. BJP spokespersons have held press conferences every time an opposition member makes such comments. In addition, the Congress party's social media handles have also launched an offensive against themselves. The BJP has used their official social media handle on X to draw graphic comparisons between the Mumbai terror attack and the surgical strikes by the Modi government in Uri. One post reads, 'Contrast that with PM Modi's New India: We replied to Uri with surgical strikes. Pulwama was answered at Balakot. Terrorists now know there's a price to pay." Further posts by the BJP highlight historical blunders by the Jawaharlal Nehru regime and continuing through Sonia Gandhi's leadership. One post states, 'From Nehru to Sonia, Congress has mastered the art of surrender – not to the people of India, but to the nation's enemies. Decades of denial, delays & dangerous politics have cost India thousands of lives. While they offered speeches, condolences, sympathy for terrorists and cover-ups, terrorists ran riots across India. Here's the truth they want buried." Another post criticised Nehru, saying, 'In 1947, Nehru avoided naming Pakistan for the attack on Kashmir and dragged the issue to the UN, internationalising a matter we could've handled firmly. Jawaharlal Nehru dismissed the need for a strong military, even calling the Army 'unnecessary' in 1950. He also gifted China our trust and Tibet on a platter, and ignored intelligence warnings that cost us the 1962 war. His Non-Alignment Policy became a noble excuse for inaction; meanwhile, India bled." The BJP also attacked former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi for her handling of the Punjab issue. 'Indira Gandhi made it worse. She played with fire by nurturing Bhindranwale for political gains, only to watch Punjab burn. Her own creation turned against the nation, and her. Congress didn't fight terror; it manufactured it to suit their vote bank politics. In 1971, Indira Gandhi won the war but released over 93,000 Pakistani soldiers without securing a resolution on the PoK issue or dismantling Pakistan's terror infrastructure," the post said. The BJP, which rose to power with a massive victory led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, also blamed the Congress party for failing to control terror activities during their regime from 2004 to 2014. BJP claimed there were 7,200 terror incidents in the country during this period. One of the biggest attacks, the 2009 Mumbai siege, happened during the UPA regime. The BJP criticised the Congress for not seeking revenge or ensuring justice for the victims, which included civilians and forces alike. They also list incidents like the Samjhauta Express, Jaipur, Delhi, Pune, and Ahmedabad blasts as examples of Congress's failures. Advertisement After the recent attack in Pahalgam, the Modi government called an all-party meeting to brief political parties on the security situation in Kashmir and the actions taken against Pakistan. All political parties, including Congress, assured the government of their support for any action deemed necessary against Pakistan. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge echoed similar sentiments, urging restraint within the party. Party senior leader Jairam Ramesh issued a notification that no one should speak out of turn on such matters. However, controversy arose when the official Congress handle depicted Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a headless position, labeling him as 'Gaayab." Despite widespread criticism, it took Congress nearly 24 hours to delete the post. Party General Secretary KC Venugopal then issued another advisory stating that only authorised spokespersons or senior leaders should speak on such matters. top videos View All The seriousness of the advisory can be gauged from the fact that senior leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared it on her social media post. However, it appears that Congress leaders do not take the advice of their top brass seriously. Ajay Rai and Charanjeet Singh Channi quickly courted controversy with their statements. The lack of discipline within Congress on such a sensitive issue, coupled with the growing demand among the Indian populace for retribution against Pakistan, has provided the BJP with ample political ammunition. Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : BJP congress Pahalgam attack Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: May 06, 2025, 10:30 IST News politics 'From Nehru To Sonia': BJP Mounts Offensive On Congress Over Fight Against Terror
