Thu Sep 18 06:55:38 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary and rewrite as a news article:**
**Summary:**
India has strongly condemned Israel’s recent bombing in Doha, Qatar, calling it a “violation of sovereignty.” This marks a significant shift from India’s previously muted responses to Israeli actions in other countries. While concerns over civilian casualties in Gaza are a factor, experts believe India’s strong stance is primarily driven by its close ties with Qatar, especially given concerns over a new Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense agreement. This incident has raised concerns among Gulf countries about their security and the reliability of the U.S. as a guarantor, potentially leading to a geopolitical shift in the region. India’s varying responses to Israeli actions in different countries highlight its focus on transactional relationships and strategic interests, and the need to balance relations with Israel and the Arab world.
**News Article:**
**India Sharply Condemns Israeli Bombing in Doha, Signaling Shift in West Asia Policy**
**NEW DELHI, September 18, 2025** – In a marked departure from its past responses, India has issued a strong condemnation of Israel’s recent bombing of a residential compound in Doha, Qatar, denouncing it as a “violation of sovereignty.” The statement, made at the UN Human Rights Council by India’s Ambassador Arindam Bagchi, represents a significant shift in New Delhi’s stance on Israeli military actions in the region.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) bombed the compound, used to house leaders of Hamas, as a response to the U.S.’ latest ceasefire proposal. The attack on Doha has killed five civilians.
While concerns over rising civilian casualties in the ongoing conflict are believed to have played a role, experts suggest that India’s firm response is primarily rooted in its deep-seated relationship with Qatar. This concern is heightened by the recent signing of a Saudi-Pakistan mutual defense agreement.
“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,” said Bagchi.
The strong condemnation is a sharp contrast to India’s muted reactions to past Israeli bombings in Lebanon, Yemen, Tunisia, Syria, and Iran. The varying responses underscore the complexities of India’s foreign policy in the region, which is increasingly driven by “transactionalism,” rather than strict adherence to principles.
“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,” explained former Ambassador Navdeep Suri.
According to former Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad, the attack on Doha has put Gulf countries “on notice”, indicating a “fundamental geopolitical shift in the region.” This has led to alarms amongst Gulf Countries, which was visible during the Arab League and Organisation for Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference.
The incident has also amplified existing tensions between India and the Arab world due to its silence on the devastating situation in Gaza. However, India has recently shown some signs of adjusting its approach, including condemning the killing of journalists and civilians in Gaza, and supporting a UN resolution for a two-state solution.
The Modi government’s shifting stance suggests a growing need to balance its strategic partnership with Israel with the broader interests and concerns of the Arab world in the midst of the West Asia conflict.
First Piper 