Letters: A new non-alignment policy

This refers to the edit “A false choice” (February 21). The attack on the Israeli diplomat’s car in New Delhi has dragged a reluctant India into the hitherto three-cornered conflict involving Iran, Israel and the US. Now, India must delineate its stand: first, against the use of its territory to play out covert extra-judicial assassinations and retaliations, and second, on reiterating the independence of its foreign policy. When nations like South Korea and Japan with much closer strategic ties and far-reaching economic linkages with the US have been bold enough to seek exemptions on the Iran embargo, why should Indian diplomacy hesitate? Even if the 12 per cent import dependence on Iranian oil is switched to other Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) like Saudi Arabia, India cannot wish away Iran’s geopolitical importance in securing the safety of shipping routes in the Gulf of Aden as also using its territory to fulfil its socio-economic reconstruction obligations and protect its investments in landlocked Afghanistan. India must also object to the lavish Western military patronage given to Iran’s neighbours since these largely authoritarian regimes do not have stellar human-rights and weapons-proliferation records. India’s policy of non-alignment needs a contemporary reboot — Iran must be reminded of the danger inherent in shielding its nuclear establishments from a UN-mandated International Atomic Energy Agency probe, while Israel must be weaned away from launching pre-emptive strikes.

Sudipta Das, Kolkata

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