UNITED States President Mr. Donald Trump’s phone call to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi to discuss the West Asia crisis carries a special importance in the current geopolitical situation. This is the first direct talk between Mr. Trump and Mr. Modi since the war with Iran broke out on February 28. The call has come at a critical moment when negotiations between representatives of the United States and Iran are on the horizon with Pakistan taking the lead to host the talks. This development is of special interest for India and the phone call by Mr. Trump to Mr. Modi confirms the important place he commands in this exercise. The choice of Pakistan as a go-to party between the US and Iran might have perplexed many in India but it is a typical American policy to use the country for messenger jobs. Pakistan had been serving Washington’s needs in these forms for decades and its proximity with Iran has come handy for the US to take its help as a messenger.

 

No matter the nonsensical comments about India and PM Mr. Modi by the opposition leaders in India, the fact remains that New Delhi holds a special position in the scheme of things designed for South Asia. The phone call to Mr. Modi sums up this position carved with great dexterity over the years by India’s smart foreign policy and diplomatic reach. The content of the phone call also holds great value for India. Mr. Modi insisted on keeping the Strait of Hormuz open which is a direct message to the US that it needs to revise its strategy of force against Iran and secure the most critical waterway for the world. The Strait talk by Mr. Modi can be seen as the voice of the entire South Asian region which is bearing the brunt of the US-Iran war. As the Hormuz Gulf remains under siege of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), oil and gas supplies have been badly hit in the region. India, too, is facing an imminent fuel crisis despite the back-up measures announced by the Centre. Mr. Modi has put forth all these concerns in a straightforward talk with Mr. Trump underlining the position he has built in the global order.

 

The Prime Minister has already announced in the Parliament that India is engaged in talks with all nations including Israel, Iran and the US apart from holding regular interaction with the Gulf countries over the war. A channel is already working to bring the warring sides to the instrument of dialogue to sort out their issues. It is a unique position that India has built for itself to become a bridge between all sides. This engagement is set to reflect in the proposed negotiations to be hosted by Pakistan. The role of Islamabad does not, in any way, undermine the position of New Delhi in the current geopolitics. India does not need to worry too much about the process of the negotiations. It has already exercised its strategic autonomy and has benefited from it by securing safe passage for its vessels from the Strait of Hormuz and also increasing oil purchase from Russia as well as Iran.

 

It has to hold on to its neutral position while advocating peace and dialogue. It is the best way forward in these times where equations between countries can change at the expiry of one’s utility. New Delhi’s multi-alignment policy has ensured that it remains in the thick of things for every bloc in the world. The immediate challenge for India is to devise strategies to tackle the impact of the war. Untill the negotiations translate into a ceasefire, fuel crisis is set to increase in the country. The PM has already formed seven empowered groups to make contingency plans in case of a prolonged war. The Government has also taken all parties on board to handle the problem. It is incumbent upon the Centre to allay fears of shortage of fuel which has already caused panic in the country. Apart from increasing vigil against hoarders and black-marketeers, the Government also needs to work at war-footing on availability of fertilisers as the Kharif season is round the corner.