Articles

Peace in West Asia in the wake of Iran-Israel conflict

West Asia: The Smoldering Cauldron

Alfred Thayer Mahan- a US naval officer is credited to have named the region as West Asia in 1905- which was earlier known as part of Middle East (Middle East was a term coined by the British who divide....

November 19, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , West Asia , Hezbollah , Iran Israel conflict

Israel’s conundrum about the Day after Scenario in Gaza Strip

Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Israel's security policy has been influenced by a deep sense of regional isolation, vulnerability and asymmetry in terms of small territorial size, limited population, lack of strategic depth, diplomatic weaknesses, limited strategic and economic ass....

September 25, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Israel , US , Joe Biden , Hamas , Palestinian Authority , Benjamin Netanyahu , Abdel Fattah el-Sisi , Philadelphi corridor , Rafah corridor

Israel and the HHH- War of Attrition and Revenge

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

July 31 was the casting date for a much-feared escalation in the Middle East as Israeli leadership acknowledged killing of the Hezbollah leader Fouad Shukr (July 30) but keeping enigmatic silence on the killing of the Hamas top leader and negotiator ....

August 28, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , Israel , Gaza , Houthis , Netanyahu , Hezbollah , Biden , Hamas , Ismael Haniyeh

Pezeshkian as President: What Might this Mean for Iran and India

Kingshuk Chatterjee Article

Election for the presidency of the Islamic Republic in Iran has brought into limelight the unlikely figure of Masoud Pezeshkian, who beat the arch-conservative Saeed Jalili in the run-off held on 5th July 2024. Winning by a good nine percentage poin....

July 15, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Ebrahim Raisi , Reformist bloc , Hijab laws , 2022 protests , Saeed Jalili

Iran in the Wake of the Death of Ebrahim Raisi

Kingshuk Chatterjee Article

The death of Ebrahim Raisi, the incumbent President of Iran, in a tragic accident has lent to feverish speculation as to what could its repercussions be. The general consensus that is emerging seems to be that having made little original contributio....

May 27, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , IRGC , Ayatollah Khamenei , Ebrahim Raisi , Hossein Amir-Abdollahian , Mohammad Mokhber

Key Changes in India’s Approach Towards West Asia over the Last ten Years: From Link West to Act West

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took over the reins of India in 2014, there were some concerns within the Arab and the Muslim world that India’s foreign policy will tilt towards Israel at the expense of the Palestinian cause and historic relation....

April 30, 2024 West Asia , Israel , India , China , GCC , West Asia , OIC , Red Sea , I2U2 , IMEC , Reflections on PM Narendra Modi's Foreign Policy , Reflections on PM Narendra Modi's Foreign Policy

Hezbollah in the North

Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Israel currently in midst of ground operation in Gaza Strip is simultaneously engaged in limited war across the Blue Line on its northern frontier with Hezbollah. The near daily exchange of fire that began since Israel Defense Forces (IDF)’s assaul....

March 12, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , US , Iran , Indian Diaspora , Hezbollah , Hamas , Israel Defense Forces (IDF) , 7 October attack

Israel-Hamas War: Enough is Enough

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Commentary

“How much is enough “to rake up the conscience and comfort levels of the international community especially for USA- the sole benefactor of the Netanyahu led Israeli onslaught on the hapless and hopeless Palestinian civilians in Gaza. All norms o....

March 06, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , Israel , Palestine , Gaza , UNRWA , Hamas , Two State solution

Uncertain Winds: Trends in West Asia in 2024

Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

Israel-Hamas Conflict

On 7 October, Hamas’ military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades backed by Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) Al-Quds Brigades executed a multi-domain ‘shock and awe campaign’, ‘Operation Al Aqsa Flood’ i....

January 31, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Israel , Palestine , US , China , Russia , Iran , Civil wars

West Asia - in the Throes of a Disruptive 2023 and not so Different 2024

Amb Anil Trigunayat, Distinguished Fellow, VIF Article

Even as the 2023 turned out to be literally the hottest year in history, West Asia continued to face the equally destabilizing heat in the old and new hotspots. The ongoing wars and conflicts do not portend well for 2024. Hence, more disruptions cou....

January 02, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Israel , Palestine , Gaza , Hamas , Economic costs , IDF , Perceptions