{"id":54578,"date":"2025-09-19T21:18:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-19T15:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=54578"},"modified":"2025-09-22T12:18:03","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:48:03","slug":"why-did-india-condemn-doha-strike","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/19-09-2025\/why-did-india-condemn-doha-strike","title":{"rendered":"Why did India Condemn the Doha Strike?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/IR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s recent condemnation of Israel\u2019s bombing in Doha is a<strong> shift from its more muted positions on<\/strong> previous Israeli operations in other countries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) <\/strong>bombed a home in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting in the U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Israel PM Netanyahu <\/strong>claimed the strike was \u201cjustified,\u201d accusing Qatar of \u201charbouring and funding\u201d Hamas operatives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India condemned the violation of the sovereignty of Qatar.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The statements are in <strong>stark contrast to India\u2019s reactions to Israel\u2019s bombings of several other countries in the region,<\/strong> including Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Syria, and Iran.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Reasons for India\u2019s Stand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Energy Security: <\/strong>Qatar is a crucial LNG supplier for India having long-term contracts.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Any escalation in Doha directly threatens India\u2019s energy stability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Large Diaspora: <\/strong>Over 8 lakh Indians live in Qatar, contributing heavily in remittances.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Security of diaspora communities is always a priority in India\u2019s Gulf policy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Balancing: <\/strong>India has strong defence and tech ties with Israel, but also deep economic and cultural ties with Arab Gulf states.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The statement avoids direct condemnation of Israel, but signals displeasure at destabilising actions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Geopolitical Calculations: <\/strong>The U.S. is seen as reducing its security role in the Gulf.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India needs to maintain goodwill with GCC countries that are exploring joint defence mechanisms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consistency with Multilateral Stance: <\/strong>India recently supported the two-state solution for Palestine at UNGA and its stance is in line with that.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications of India\u2019s Stand<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthens Ties with Qatar &amp; GCC: <\/strong>Signals to Gulf states that India values their security concerns.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It will protect energy contracts, trade, and diaspora interests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Maintains Israel Ties: <\/strong>India avoided direct condemnation, but also conveyed that indiscriminate military actions are unacceptable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Boosts India\u2019s Image as a Responsible Power: <\/strong>By calling the strike a threat to \u201cpeace and stability,\u201d India projects itself as a balanced, peace-oriented actor in West Asia.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This enhances India\u2019s credibility in forums like Arab League, OIC, and UNGA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Strategic Autonomy in Action: <\/strong>Shows India is not blindly siding with Israel or the U.S. narrative.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It reinforces India\u2019s approach of multi-alignment in a multipolar West Asia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Implications for India\u2019s West Asia Policy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Balancing Israel and the Arab World: <\/strong>India\u2019s close ties with Israel now face tensions with the Arab bloc, silence on Gaza, despite massive civilian casualties, is eroding goodwill.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s eventual vote in favour of the two-state solution at UNGA shows that it must balance ties with Israel while keeping Arab sensitivities in mind.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Energy Security and Diaspora Concerns: <\/strong>Energy diversification and diaspora safety will continue to be drivers of India\u2019s West Asia approach.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Regional Multilateralism and India\u2019s Engagement: <\/strong>Arab League\u2013OIC condemnation and GCC\u2019s defence talks show that Arab solidarity is resurging.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India, which has deep economic stakes across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, cannot appear indifferent to regional concerns.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India may need to step up its participation in platforms like the India\u2013GCC FTA negotiations, and expand strategic dialogues beyond bilateral ties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Future escalations may put India in tougher spots, as both Israel and Arab partners will expect support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The current situation highlights the limits of transactional diplomacy\u2014India must balance values with interests.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/why-did-india-condemn-israels-doha-strike-explained\/article70065386.ece\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<h3><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India\u2019s recent condemnation of Israel\u2019s bombing in Doha is a shift from its more muted positions on previous Israeli operations in other countries.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<h3><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) bombed a home in Doha, Qatar, where Hamas leaders were reportedly meeting in the U.S.-proposed ceasefire plan.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Israel PM Netanyahu claimed the strike was \u201cjustified,\u201d accusing Qatar of \u201charbouring and funding\u201d Hamas operatives.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">India condemned the violation of the sovereignty of Qatar.<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The statements are in stark contrast to India\u2019s reactions to Israel\u2019s bombings of several other countries in the region, including Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Syria, and Iran.<\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/19-09-2025\/why-did-india-condemn-doha-strike\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read\u00a0More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-54578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=54578"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54578\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":54599,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/54578\/revisions\/54599"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=54578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=54578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=54578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}