Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: India’s Relations with other Powers, Issue: India-Qatar Relations.
Context:
India strongly condemned Israel’s bombing in Doha, marking a shift from its usual cautious stance.
- The move reflects concern over Qatar’s sovereignty and regional stability, driven by India’s strategic interests and close ties with Qatar, especially amid heightened tensions and the Saudi–Pakistan defence pact.
Key Takeaways:
Why Did India Condemn the Doha Strike?
- India’s strong condemnation of Israel’s bombing in Doha as a “violation of sovereignty” on September 16, 2025, marks a notable departure from its more restrained responses to previous Israeli military actions in other countries.
- This shift has raised questions about a potential change in New Delhi’s approach to the West Asia crisis.
Key Points:
- Condemnation: India referred to the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) bombing of a home in Doha, where Hamas leaders were meeting, as actions that “threaten peace, stability, and security” in the region and worldwide.
- Sovereignty: India’s Ambassador to the UN Mission in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, unequivocally condemned the “violation of the sovereignty of Qatar,” invoking the UN charter and international law.
- High-Level Engagement: The condemnation followed a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and a conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani, where Modi expressed “solidarity with the Qatari people.”
Examples:
- India’s strategic partnership with Qatar initiated in 2025, including defence and intelligence cooperation. India’s prompt condemnation of Doha airstrike contrasted with muted responses to Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Iran, and Gaza.
- Visit exchanges and high-level talks between PM Modi and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
- India’s vote endorsing the two-state solution in the UN General Assembly in 2025
India’s Position on GAZA and West Asia Policy:
Conclusion:
India’s condemnation of the Doha strike reflects a careful recalibration of its West Asia policy, driven primarily by pragmatic considerations of close bilateral ties with Qatar and energy security rather than a wholesale shift on principles of sovereignty or conflict in Gaza.
This measured approach highlights India’s goal to maintain a delicate balance among competing interests in a volatile region, leveraging strategic partnerships to safeguard national interests while advocating for regional stability.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2025 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
