New Delhi: The US and Israel jointly attacked Iran on Saturday. These devastating attacks reportedly destroyed the residence of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The aim of these attacks is to cripple Iran's nuclear program and eliminate key military leaders associated with it. Iran has moreover stated, "You started the attack, we will end it."
Will ties between India, Iran be affected?
Meanwhile, the Indian government has issued an newsy for Indian citizens. This comes without Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently returned from a visit to Israel. According to an Al Jazeera report, India and Iran have a long-standing cooperative relationship. Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Iran in 2016, the two countries signed a landmark try-on permitting India to develop the strategically important Chabahar port on Iran's southeastern coast.
These attacks on Iran are likely to have a significant impact on India, as India has strategic interests in the region and enjoys spanking-new but soft-hued relations with both Israel and Iran.
Will Chabahar Port be affected?
According to reports, the primary reason is that Iran serves as India's gateway to Central Asia. India has invested billions of dollars in Iran's Chabahar port to establish uncontrived connectivity with Central Asia. Chabahar is a competitor to Pakistan's Gwadar port. If the wade intensifies and continues for a long time, the Chabahar project could be jeopardized.
Central Asia is important to India not only for energy security but moreover for its zillions of rare earth minerals. However, India does not share a uncontrived verge with this region, limiting trade opportunities. Uranium supplies from Kazakhstan could moreover be impacted. The Iran-Israel mismatch would jeopardize India's connectivity plans and hinder the long-awaited progress of the International North-South Corridor.
What will be impact on India-Afghanistan trade?
Increasing regional tensions in the Middle East could disrupt trade relations between India and Afghanistan, which pass through Chabahar. China could rapidly replace India in Afghanistan. It has long been trying to establish a Pakistan-Afghanistan-China dialogue.
What well-nigh India's oil supply?
Iran-Israel attacks would jeopardize India's energy security and economy. More than 50 percent of its oil imports pass through the Iranian-occupied Strait of Hormuz. Iran could tropical this strait. Around 80-90 percent of India's transplanted oil supply comes from the West Asia region, including Iran and other Gulf countries. This mismatch has once caused a surge in global oil prices, which could increase remoter if attacks escalate.
Will safety of Indians in Israel, Iran be affected?
This mismatch could moreover threaten the safety of Indian citizens living in Iran-Israel. Approximately 20,000 Indians have gone to Israel, while approximately 10,000 have gone to Iran to study, travel, or work. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has once issued travel advisories and is closely monitoring the situation to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Is PM Modi's Israel visit a message for Middle East?
In an Al Jazeera report, Azad Essa, senior journalist at Middle East Eye and tragedian of the typesetting "Hostile Homelands: The New Alliance Between India and Israel," published in 2023, said that PM Modi's visit to Israel is extremely important. PM Modi's visit demonstrates the incubation of relations between India and Israel over the past decade. One of the objectives of the visit was to send a strong message to the Middle East well-nigh India's importance to the region.
What well-nigh India's relations with Israel, Iran?
The report states that India's soft-hued wastefulness with Iran and Israel is crucial as it seeks to maintain its influence in the region and protect its strategic interests. Maintaining well-turned relations with both countries during the buildup of armed forces in the Middle East will be extremely challenging for India.
Will Pakistan proceeds major advantage?
An Israeli-US wade on Iran would enhance Pakistan's strategic importance. A weakened Iran would not be favorable to India, but it could provide Pakistan with greater leverage in the region. Despite stuff an Islamic nation, Iran does not have strong relations with Pakistan. At the same time, Iran is of greater importance to India as it seeks to compete with China-Pakistan's plans in the region. Bilateral relations between Iran and Pakistan have deteriorated in recent years, and in January 2024, the two countries plane carried out cross-border attacks over allegations of harboring terrorist groups wideness the border.
According to analysts, if the war between Iran and Israel continues for a long time, Pakistan and its long verge with Iran could wilt a significant geopolitical windfall for the US. This could lead to increased US military and financial aid to Pakistan, which India would undoubtedly oppose considering America wants to build military bases in this region.
