India worried over Israel-Iran battle on its soil

Paarull CNN-IBN | 14-Feb 21:49 PM

New Delhi: India suddenly finds itself caught in the crossfire between Israel and Iran - two enemies, which are New Delhi's friends. So worried is India that within hours of Monday's attack it had asked both Israel and Iran to ensure their covert war isn't played out on its soil.

"India doesn't want to get sucked into action between two countries," said Minister of External Affairs SM Krishna.

Caught in the covert war between Israel and Iran, India walks a diplomatic tight rope. New Delhi refused to directly blame Iran, but the investigators have taken photo identity cards of Iranian citizens in Delhi.

Bombs exploding on Delhis streets aren't the only reason for worry. Israel is an important defence partner, from which New Delhi buys weaponry and taps its military expertise. But Iran is an important oil supplier and provides access to Afghanistan and central Asia. So India has to ensure ties with both Israel and Iran are not affected

India also has to make sure its response doesn't escalate hostilities. Because any Israeli military strike will put at risk over 5 million Indians in West Asia, $60 billion worth of remittances and affordable oil.

But even if Israel restrains itself, experts expect increased US pressure on India to scale back its trade and investment with Iran.

Lisa Curtis of the heritage foundation, a US think tank, said, "India will find it increasingly difficult to placate both Iran, on the one hand, and the US and Israel, on the other."

Diplomatic sources say India will resist Western pressure over Iran. At the same time, they admit Iran is using its cultural centres in cities like Hyderabad and Mumbai to carry out activities hostile to Indian interests. For which up to 40 'students' have been expelled from India over the past 18 months.

If that's not complex enough, there's a political worry for the UPA as well. Any tension with Iran could be whipped up in Uttar Pradesh by those fiercely wooing the Shia vote.

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