Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security on Thursday evening to discuss the outbreak of fresh hostilities in West Asia, sources said.

The sources, quoted by news agency PTI, said the West Asia conflict and its impact on trade and supply of petroleum products was discussed in the meeting.

India has voiced deep concern over the escalation of the security situation in West Asia and said the conflict must not take a wider regional dimension.

It has also called for addressing all issues through dialogue and diplomacy.

The meeting comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia, especially after the Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah.

Israel hits Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters

In the latest development, Israel said it has hit Hezbollah’s intelligence headquarters in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The Israel Defense Forces claimed to have killed Hezbollah leader Mahmoud Yusef Anisi.

Anisi was “a senior terrorist involved in Hezbollah’s precision-guided missile manufacturing chain in Lebanon,” according to the Israeli military.

On September 30, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about recent developments in West Asia.

“Terrorism has no place in our world. It is crucial to prevent regional escalation and ensure the safe release of all hostages. India is committed to supporting efforts for an early restoration of peace and stability,” Modi said.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is a cabinet committee of Union government that discusses, debates and is the final decision-making body on senior appointments in the national security apparatus, defence policy and expenditure, and generally all matters of India’s national security.

Prime Minister of India, Minister of Defence, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Finance and Minister of External Affairs are the members.

The National Security Adviser, the Cabinet Secretary and the Defence Secretary have also been attendees of the CCS meetings.

Conflicts in the Middle East have intensified, with Israel now engaged in a multi-front war involving Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, and more recently, Iran. This escalation comes amidst the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which began in early 2022. These crises have led to growing concerns that the situation may evolve into a broader global conflict, potentially even another World War.

Veteran investor Shankar Sharma stirred discussions on geopolitical tensions with a tweet, predicting an inevitable escalated global conflict. He foresees the formation of two opposing blocs in the world, with the US, UK, Israel, and Europe on one side and Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea on the other.

“Apna prediction kilear hai: aaj nahi to Kal, ek World War hona hi hai. US UK Israel Europe: Side 1. Iran Russia China N Korea: Side 2. India? Referee without Penalty Powers,” Sharma said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on October 2.

The tweet hinted at India’s uncertain role, likening it to a “referee without penalty powers” – a position of neutrality but with limited influence in mitigating the global conflict.

Sharma’s prediction aligns with growing concerns about escalating global tensions, particularly surrounding the US-China relations, the Russia-Ukraine war, and Middle Eastern conflicts involving Iran and Israel. The inclusion of major nuclear powers such as Russia, China, and the US intensifies the potential consequences of such a scenario.

Middle East tensions escalated significantly on October 1, when Iran launched around 200 ballistic missiles at Israel. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to retaliate against Tehran, while Iranian officials warned that any further targeting of their country would provoke an even more devastating counterstrike.

Sharma’s comment on India’s role as a “referee” reflects its current foreign policy of strategic autonomy and its ‘neutral’ position. While India maintains strong ties with the West, it has also sought to balance its relations with Russia and other non-aligned nations.

This is evident in its approach during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, where India has preserved diplomatic ties with both Russia and Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has engaged with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, aiming to foster dialogue without explicitly taking sides.

Financial markets have been rattled by the ongoing geopolitical conflicts, with the Indian stock market indices, Sensex and Nifty 50, dropping over 2% each on Thursday. The heightened volatility in the markets have added to broader concerns about the global economic outlook amid speculations over how the conflict will evolve.

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