As the expansion of the Iran war continues to wreak havoc in West Asia, India’s response to the escalating crisis, beginning with the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas on Israel and the US-Israel war on Iran, has become a subject of debate.

The emergence of Pakistan as a key player amid the changing security dynamics of the region has further prompted experts to warn of threats it could pose to India’s interests in the region. What does India’s response to these developments indicate? First, let’s have a brief overview of India’s engagement with the region.

The WANA region, comprising the Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Maghreb regions, has historically acquired a key position in Indian foreign policy.…