Opinion On Middle East, Delhi must stay with abiding principles, find points of convergence

It is beginning to dawn on India’s political class that the Middle East is too important for the country’s economic prosperity and national security to allow the region’s unfolding tragedy to become domestic football between the ruling BJP and the Opposition Congress. Ever since the horrific attack on southern Israel on October 7, it has been disconcerting to see domestic politics overwhelm the discourse on an international crisis in the neighbourhood. Congress has been accused of being soft on terror and pandering to the so-called Muslim vote bank. The BJP, in turn, has been charged with the dilution of India’s traditional support for Palestine and pandering to its Hindutva base. After some inexplicable twists and turns, a Congress spokesperson has condemned “attacks on the innocent civilians of Israel by Hamas.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s quick reaction in denouncing the terror attacks and expressing solidarity with Israel was uncharacteristically unambiguous. Days later, a spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated India’s long-standing support for Palestinian statehood.

The question for India, however, is not about being, and appearing to be, “balanced” or “both-sided”. It is about staying true to abiding principles and clear-eyed interests that come together on the question of terror. Delhi has long believed, and rightly so, that violence against innocent people is terrorism and cannot be justified by claims of a higher political morality. The consideration of interests has seen Delhi reject the notion that “resolving the root cause” is necessary to end terrorism. As a party at the national helm for several decades, Congress is surely aware how Pakistan has long justified its support and complicity in cross-border terror by invoking Kashmir. The Congress party, therefore, must rework its CWC resolution to clearly articulate that terror, the killing of civilians, is no barganing chip. The ruling BJP, on its part, must draw the line against attempts to turn solidarity with Israel and condemnation of Hamas terror into minority-baiting at home.

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Insulating India’s domestic politics from the unending turmoil in the Middle East is a core interest of the Indian state. Using the Middle East for political gains at home will be extremely costly for the polity. Delhi’s challenge will become sharper as the crisis escalates amid the planned invasion of Gaza by Israel. India must publicly urge Israel to respect the humanitarian laws of war and abide by the principle of proportionality in dealing with Hamas. Unleashing mass casualties in Gaza in retaliation against a brutal terror attack is unjust and misguided and will only lead to Israel losing ground in world public opinion. India must also work with its Arab partners to facilitate the early release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. In the past, taking broad positions in the Middle East seemed good enough for the Indian political class. Given India’s gowing commercial and security stakes in the Middle East today, however, Delhi needs to go beyond proclaiming positions. It must actively join the international effort to dispel the looming catastrophe over the Middle East. At home, the government must initiate regular consultations with Opposition parties, brief them on the rapidly unfolding crisis, and attempt to forge a consensus on dealing with its consequences. Last month’s G20 consensus shows that India has both the space and the standing. Its growing bilateral relationship with Israel and its ties with all key players in the region — from Iran and Qatar to Saudi Arabia and Egypt — will help in finding a path ahead in the fog of this new war.