A Critical Reflection in the Context of Middle East
Puran Chand Sharma
puransharma53@gmail.com
The Ongoing War in the Middle East has certainly stirred and jolted the present world posing quite a very complex and jumbled proposition as to whether in the course of critical times war becomes a living reality to create and regenerate a congenial scenario for having life long stint of the enduring peace amongst the societies for the ultimate prosperity and prolonged usefulness of holistic human endeavor forever. Let us dive deep and churn out the ultimate basic truth: Human civilization has always oscillated between the ideals of peace and the harsh realities of war. Philosophers, Strategists and political leaders do often debate that as to whether war can ever be justified as means to achieve lasting peace. While some argue that war is sometimes necessary to eliminate tyranny or restore stability. History repeatedly demonstrates that wars often create deeper divisions, suffering, and long-term instability. The ongoing conflicts in the Middle East or West Asia—particularly the wars involving Gaza strip, Israel, Iran and Yemen raise serious questions, whether war truly leads to peace or merely perpetuates cycles of violence. In theory, some scholars of International relations believe in the concept of “ war for peace”. The logic is that decisive military action can dismantle oppressive regimes or deter aggression. For example, the devastation of world war ii, Institutions like United Nations were created to maintain global peace. However, the paradox remains that while war may sometimes stop a particular threat, it rarely removes the deeper political, economic and ideological conflicts that caused it.
The contemporary conflicts in West Asia highlight this dilemma quite vividly. The Israel- Palestine conflict which escalated dramatically after October 7 Hamas -led attack on Israel, has resulted in massive destruction and humanitarian crises. Thousands of civilians have suffered, cities have been devastated and the region remains deeply polarized. Similarly the long standing rivalry between Iran and Israel has raised fears of a wider regional war, while the civil war in Yemen continues to devastate one of the world’s poorest nation. These conflicts illustrate that war often multiplies grievances than resolving them. Another critical dimension of these wars is the role of geopolitical interests and natural resources The Middle East possesses nearly half of the world’s proven oil reserves, making it strategically vital for global energy security. Major powers have historically competed for influence in the region to secure access to the resources such as petroleum and natural gas. The involvement of external powers in countries like Iraq and Syria have often been interpreted by critics as driven partly by resource interests and strategic dominance. While uranium resources are not the central factor in Middle Eastern conflicts, nuclear ambitions, particularly those associated with Iran—have intensified global tensions. Thus it is not entirely inaccurate to say that resource competition, combined with strategic arrogance and ideological rivalries fuel many of these wars.
However, reducing all conflicts merely to the struggle for oil or uranium would be an over simplification. Historical grievances, territorial disputes, religious divisions and political power struggles also play a major role. For example, roots of Israel -Palestine conflict lie in the complex history surrounding the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948, displacement of populations and unresolved questions of sovereignty. These layered causes make it extremely difficult for military solutions alone to bring sustainable peace. The consequences of war extend far beyond the immediate battlefield. Humanitarian catastrophes, displacement of millions, destruction of infrastructure, and long term psychological trauma are common outcomes. Economies collapse, Education systems are disrupted and generations grow up in environments of fear and instability. The refugee crisis arising from conflicts in Syria and Yemen demonstrates as to how regional wars can become global humanitarian challenges. For a country like India, these conflicts carry serious implications. Our country heavily depends on energy imports from Gulf region, making stability in west Asia crucial for its economic security. Escalating conflicts can lead to higher oil prices, disruption in shipping routes and inflationary pressures on the Indian economy. Furthermore, millions of Indian expatriates work in countries such as united Arab emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Any regional instability directly affects their safety and livelihoods. India must, therefore, carefully balance its diplomatic relations with all sides while advocating peace and stability.
India’s traditional foreign policy principle of strategic autonomy and peaceful existence can pay a constructive role in addressing such crises. Right from beginning, India has supported dialogue, non-alignment and multilateral diplomacy. In recent years, India has strengthened ties with Israel while also maintaining cordial relations with Arab countries and Iran. This balanced approach places India in a unique position to encourage dialogue and humanitarian cooperation. For the purpose of resolving the gigantic crisis facing the Middle East and prevent further global instability, several measures are essential such as:- 1.Diplomatic engagement must replace military confrontation. International organizations like the United Nations must be strengthened to so that they can act as effective mediators. 2. Major powers should avoid turning regional conflicts into proxy wars. When external powers compete for influence, local disputes often escalate into prolonged wars. 3. Economic cooperation and regional development initiatives can reduce tensions by creating shared interests. Investments in education, infrastructure and employment opportunities can help stabilize societies that are currently vulnerable to conflict. 4. Humanitarian aid and reconstruction must be prioritized to alleviate the sufferings of civilians. 5. Finally there must be a global commitment to ethical leadership and restraint. Military strength may deter aggression but arrogance and unilateralism often deepen hostility. Genuine peace requires justice, dialogue and mutual respect among nations. As the ancient Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam”—the world is one family—suggests, humanity must rise above narrow national interests to protect collective survival.
In conclusion, war may sometimes be fought with the intention of securing peace but History shows that it rarely delivers lasting harmony. Instead, wars often intensify hatred and leave unresolved grievances that fuel future conflicts. The ongoing crises in the Middle East demonstrate that military solutions alone cannot resolve deeply rooted political and historical disputes. For countries like India and for global community, the challenge is to strengthen diplomacy, promote cooperation and prioritize human welfare over power politics. Only through dialogue, justice and collective responsibility can the world move from the destructive cycle of war toward the enduring ideal of peace. Jai Bharat
(author is president of managing committee, ved mandir)
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