India’s strong denouncement of Israel’s bombing in Doha last week, labeled as a “violation of sovereignty,” contrasts sharply with its more reserved reactions to previous Israeli military actions in other countries. This has prompted questions about a potential shift in New Delhi’s West Asia policy. However, experts suggest that while the strong wording reflects growing concern over escalating civilian casualties in Gaza, India’s assertive stance is primarily influenced by its deep bilateral ties with Qatar and the broader Gulf region, rather than a sudden embrace of sovereignty principles. This nuanced approach gains added significance amidst New Delhi’s concerns following the mutual defense agreement signed between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in Riyadh.
On Tuesday, September 16, 2025, India criticized the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) bombing on September 9, 2025, of a residence in Doha where Hamas leaders were reportedly discussing the latest U.S. ceasefire proposal. India described these actions as threats to “peace, stability, and security” regionally and globally. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the strikes, which killed five people (though no senior Hamas figures), asserting they were “justified” as Qatar allegedly “harbors and funds” Hamas operatives.
“India is deeply concerned about the recent attacks in Doha and their impact on the security situation in the region. We unequivocally condemn the violation of the sovereignty of Qatar,” stated India’s Ambassador to the United Nations Mission in Geneva, Arindam Bagchi, on September 16, 2025. He further emphasized the importance of avoiding escalation and upholding “respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states,” echoing earlier statements from the Ministry of External Affairs and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s expression of “solidarity with the Qatari people” after a phone call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani on September 10, 2025.
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These strong statements stand in stark contrast to New Delhi’s typically muted responses to Israeli bombings in various other regional countries, including Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Syria, and Iran.
For instance, after Israel bombed the Iranian Embassy in Damascus last April, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) merely expressed “concern,” a similar reaction to when Israeli forces attacked a UN Peacekeeping post in Southern Lebanon. However, India largely remained silent on other Israeli attacks in these nations. Strikingly, when Israeli intelligence used hundreds of pager bombs against Hezbollah in Beirut in September 2024, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi lauded the operation as a “masterstroke.”
India’s policy on Iran, a country with significant bilateral ties and Indian investments like the Chabahar port, has been particularly perplexing. In June, New Delhi voiced “concern” and called for dialogue following Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, to which Iran retaliated. Yet, India initially distanced itself from a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) statement condemning these strikes. In a subsequent reversal, India signed the SCO joint declaration on September 1, which explicitly “condemned” Israel and the U.S. for the June attacks.
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Navdeep Suri, a former Ambassador to the UAE and Egypt, explains India’s differential approach: “India’s ties with the other countries mentioned is not the same as ties with Qatar, with its large Indian diaspora and personal relations at the highest levels between PM Modi and the Qatari Emir.” He added, “Eventually, in an age of ‘transactionalism,’ this is not as much about values and principles as about the bilateral relationship with each of these countries, including Israel.” The MEA declined to comment on the government’s conflicting positions.
According to Talmiz Ahmad, former Ambassador and author of “West Asia at War,” India’s response to the Qatar attack had “no larger strategic purpose” beyond protecting its crucial gas supplier. Ahmad also highlighted that Israel’s strike on Qatar effectively put other Gulf countries, many hosting U.S. military bases and relying on American security guarantees, “on notice,” signaling a “fundamental geopolitical shift in the region” that India must acknowledge.
Ahmad elaborated, “The message Israel has given is that every Arab country, every Gulf country is within their target zone and put them all on notice. Israel has now ended the process of normalisation, and made it clear that ties with other West Asian countries is not a priority over its operations. Furthermore, Israel has shown that the U.S. is no longer a guarantor of security for these Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.” This development has sparked alarm among Gulf nations, evident in an emergency joint session of the Arab League and Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Doha, which condemned Israel’s actions and committed to building a “joint defense mechanism.”
Moreover, experts point out that India’s continued silence on the devastating situation in Gaza, where over 65,000 people, including at least 20,000 children, have been killed by Israel’s relentless bombardment, is increasingly straining its relationships with the Arab world. In a rare media response on August 27, the MEA called the killing of journalists and civilians by the IDF “shocking and deeply regrettable.” India also voted in favor of a UNGA resolution on September 12 that endorsed a two-state solution for Palestine, suggesting that despite its strong bond with Israel, the Modi government is increasingly factoring in the broader regional dynamics.