Written by Rhea Abraham
Last week, India expressed concern over the deteriorating situation along the “Blue line”, the border recognized by the United Nations (UN) between Lebanon and Israel. This happened after two Sri Lankan soldiers and two Indonesian soldiers were injured in separate incidents following Israeli strikes near Naqoura and other nearby areas in southern Lebanon between October 10-12. India, initially not among the co-signatories, also supported the joint statement issued by the other 34 countries of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) – contributing countries and urged all members to violate the UN’s constitution.
Why the abandonment of India is important
Since November 1998, India has been providing an infantry unit to the UNIFIL forces, which was established in March 1978 to patrol the area between the Litani River in southern Lebanon and the Blue Line. Its mandate was initially to help the Lebanese government maintain authority and restore peace and security following the conflict in South Lebanon, and to monitor the withdrawal of Israeli forces from southern Lebanon. However, its mandate has grown since the 2006 Israel-Lebanon war, in the aftermath of which peacekeeping forces helped clear arable land of mines and cluster bombs while preventing civilian casualties across the border. Currently, there are 903 Indian soldiers as part of the 50-nation, 10,000-strong peacekeeping force, making it the third largest number of UNIFIL troops after Indonesia and Italy. Indian troops are mainly deployed in the eastern army in south-eastern Lebanon while other personnel are deployed in the UNIFIL headquarters in Naqoura.
India, a major military donor, initially refused to support a letter signed by 104 countries, including members from much of the Global South such as Brazil and South Africa, which “abandoned Israel” by banning UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. from entering the territory of Israel. The letter was a response to Israel declaring Guterres persona non grata on October 2. This order, issued by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, came after he felt that the UN Secretary General “unequivocally” condemned the Iranian missile attack. on October 1. The decision, while not entirely unexpected given India’s previous voting record of abstention on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, drew attention because of the letter’s focus on defending the UN and its leadership. This was interpreted as New Delhi’s failure to strengthen its criticism against the growing unrest in West Asia and its ability to strengthen the Global South’s united stance in international affairs.
India’s latest criticism thus highlights a major shift in its earlier stance on the issue, marking a significant shift in its approach to ongoing conflicts in West Asia. In a country that aspires to be a leader in the Global South, it seems that New Delhi seems to have woken up to the need to balance its security interests with broader humanitarian programs in the region. The large number of Indian troops under UNIFIL also remains an important part of India’s presence in the region and why New Delhi now feels more pressure on its security and the implications of its situation.
The way forward
Since mid-September, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged drones, artillery and airstrikes along the border almost daily, causing a sharp increase in displacement and civilian casualties. The peacekeeping forces continued to communicate with the Lebanese and Israeli authorities to urge them to end the conflict while maintaining effective coordination for overall stability along the border. However, recent strikes by UNIFIL troops have drawn international attention, including that of India, due to their negative impact on peacekeeping efforts as the peacekeeping forces are caught up in the war between Israel and Hezbollah.
While the propaganda may seem short-lived, India’s growing foreign policy ambitions in the region require greater vigilance in its efforts to maintain peace in Lebanon. Timely intervention is essential to ensure the safety of both its soldiers and the local population.
In addition, New Delhi must ensure that international attention continues to focus on this volatile area between Israel and Lebanon with efforts aimed at working towards a new peace process where all the players involved can finally reach a realistic and effective agreement. This could include raising the issue of accountability such as the resolution we presented to the UN Security Council (UNSC) in December 2022, demanding accountability for all acts of violence against UN personnel working in peacekeeping operations. Without such a step, Indian participation in the peacekeeping mission in Lebanon will mean vulnerability for strategic and moral reasons, but with no lasting impact on the international security environment.
The author is currently involved with the Migrant Workers Protection Society in Bahrain. He has worked with the Center for Airpower Studies, New Delhi as a research analyst.