- Term it unfortunate or plain unlucky, the global community has witnessed some of the most challenging times of the modern world vis-à-vis existential crises in the last four years or so throwing life out of gear for billions. The once-in-a-century pandemic wreaked havoc on the global community in more than one way leading to unprecedented economic meltdown for every country. Not even the most advanced and developed countries were spared the debilitating effects of the pandemic-induced economic downturn. As the countries slowly could overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict threatened to further disrupt the global supply chains. Thankfully, the challenges were adequately addressed on this front.
PC: The Hindu
- Now, the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict is threatening to overshadow everything else by showing enough signals of spiraling out of control in the West Asia region with more countries opposed to each other joining the fray. As reported recently, tensions in West Asia turned up a notch with Pakistan attacking alleged Baloch separatists inside Iran. This comes after Iran earlier attacked Sunni militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan’s Baluchistan. Tehran also launched missile strikes against what it says was an Israeli espionage center in Iraqi Kurdistan and Islamic State terror bases in Syria. These may lead to a larger regional conflagration forcing the global community to be on tenterhooks. From here, where the trajectory is headed is hard to guess.
- These latest strikes show that the entire region from Pakistan’s border through the Arabian Sea up to Gaza is now a zone of various degrees of conflict. What started with the Israel-Hamas war has spread with Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping and low-level transnational strikes by the principal actors. Each principal actor has at least two strategic guns pointed at the other. Israel at Iran through Azerbaijan and Iraqi Kurdistan. Iran at Israel through Hamas and Hezbollah. Iran at Saudi Arabia through Iraqi militias and Houthis. And Saudi Arabia at Iran through Pakistan and the Taliban. Most of these proxies have been activated since the Gaza war. Now you see how the conflict is flaring up bringing along many players into the equation, wittingly or unwittingly.
PC: Gateway
- Further, Iran-linked Iraqi militias have targeted US bases in Iraq and Syria over 130 times in the past three months, The US has hit back at these Iran proxies, just as it is now targeting Houthis in Yemen. Meanwhile, Israel was blamed by Iran for assassinating a top IRGC commander in Syria. Tehran earlier this month also faced the Kerman bombings, which were claimed by IS and killed more than 100. Thus, Iran’s latest strikes appear to continue the tit-for-tat pattern. Of course, Iran is under pressure to act to satisfy its conservative supporters. Pakistan is involved in the war game but would not want to escalate any further. Interestingly, India has expressed an understanding of Iran’s strikes against Pakistan. Given the complex West Asian chessboard, New Delhi should play its cards skillfully.
