India monitors troops along Israel-Lebanon border as conflict intensifies

Amid escalating tension in West Asia, India is closely monitoring its troops stationed along the Israel-Lebanon border under the UN Peacekeeping mission.

In Short

• Communication with Indian troops at Israel-Lebanon border remains top priority
• India cannot unilaterally withdraw troops from UN peacekeeping mission
• Major General Ashok Kumar says Iran's involvement could complicate India's interests

As the Israel-Hezbollah conflict escalates, India is closely monitoring its 600 soldiers stationed along the 120-km Blue Line on the Israel-Lebanon border, deployed under the United Nations peacekeeping mission. While India cannot unilaterally withdraw the troops, maintaining communication with them remains a top priority amid the rising tensions.

Emphasising the importance of soldiers' safety, Major General Ashok Kumar (Retd.), the Director General at the Centre For Joint Warfare Studies (CENJOWS), said, “The safety of our soldiers is paramount. India cannot unilaterally decide on the withdrawal of its troops from the area, but it stays in constant contact with its deployed forces to ensure their well-being.”

He further noted that while ties with Israel are crucial, Iran's involvement in the conflict could complicate the issue. “India’s strategic interests in West Asia are multi-faceted. While our relationship with Israel, particularly in defence, is vital, any involvement of Iran in the conflict could complicate matters for India. Iran is critical for our connectivity projects, especially the Chabahar port,” Kumar said.

Major General Kumar also highlighted concerns about the conflict's potential impact on India's economy, particularly oil supplies and trade. “If the conflict disrupts oil supplies, it could directly affect our economic growth. Furthermore, the well-being of 9 million Indians working in the Gulf could be at risk if the situation deteriorates.”

However, he reassured that India's efforts to diversify trade, especially for fertilisers sourced from Lebanon, have mitigated immediate risks. “India has ramped up domestic production and increased imports from other sources like Russia, minimising potential disruptions,” he said.

However, he cautioned that India must remain diplomatically engaged to handle any challenges the conflict may pose. “India has successfully balanced relationships between major powers like the US and Russia. A similar approach will be crucial here to protect our strategic interests in West Asia,” Major General Kumar concluded.