Articles

West Asia

Iran: Review of Situation as of December 2024

Right from the beginning of the Gaza Conflict triggered by the outrage of 7th October 2023, it was very clear that Iran did not want a war with Israel. This was partly because Israeli military capabilities by themselves are demonstrably far more sign....

December 18, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , Israel , IRGC , Hezbollah , Benjamin Netanyahu , Masoud Pezeshkian

Reimagining India’s Economic Engagement with the West Asian Region

Prof Sameena Hameed Commentary

India's economic engagement with the West Asian region, of which many countries are in its extended neighbourhood, is more of an impulse driven by age-old civilisational exchanges. So, one must return to the basics of our relationships, geographical ....

December 17, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Commentary , India , INSTC , CEPA , I2U2 , IMEC

The Hostage Issue in the Israel-Hamas Conflict

Dr Hirak Jyoti Das, Associate Fellow, VIF Article

On 7 October 2023, Hamas’ military wing, Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, supported by Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s (PIJ) Al-Quds Brigades, launched over November 21, 2024 International Relations and Diplomacy , West Asia , Article , Hezbollah , Hamas , Benjamin Netanyahu , Palestinian Islamic Jihad , Yoav Gallant

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

Brig (Dr) Ashok Pathak (Retd.) Article

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

Dr 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

Dr 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