Israel or Iran who is the strategic partner?

Who is the strategic partner of India?

  • iran

    Votes: 8 10.7%
  • israel

    Votes: 27 36.0%
  • none

    Votes: 9 12.0%
  • both

    Votes: 31 41.3%

  • Total voters
    75

A.V.

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the recent event of denying to launch an iranian satellite and now voting against them in the UN just made a significant strategic shift incase of indian diplomacy bilateral relations must be independent but on the world stage india seems to be siding with israel and the us which would wont fit well with indias afganistan policy for which it needs the help of iran in a big way
whats the long term significance?
is indian diplomacy doing it correctly?
what would you like to see?
how can we improve on indias strategic projection on the middleeast?
how will it affect india's afgan policy?
 

tarunraju

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There is no 'pick one only' situation for India. It can continue to engage with both. Israel gives us access to exotic western defense equipment and technologies, while Iran serves our strategic interests in the Middle East. There is no conflict of interests, since our engagement with either countries does not affect the other adversely, and to both, India has become a big partner.

It's not even like estranging Iran would affect us, since there is no risk of their alignment with Pakistan...yet. Israel isn't indispensable either. So it's really a consentual diplomatic threesome we're in. India still has stakes in Iran, the gas pipeline project is still very much there, and so are our attempts to give Central Asia a de-facto port with Chabbar.
 
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Most of the big nations no longer take a clear side or alliance, countries look out for their own interest and that is exactly the way we should view it. Isreal offers us a lot of high tech weaponry, we are their biggest weapon buyer and we do have pacts for space and intelligence gathering, but all these things does not make Iran dispensable, we have civilizational ties with Iran, much of our relations with USA has come at a cost with Iran we have no clear answer for the IPI , for the nuke deal we were coerced into voting against Iran but relations are still good and will improve we still will probably launch a satellite and chabbar port is another good example of the cooperation, we were going to getting more involved in the Iranian military program but that has probably also come to a halt.
 

NSG_Blackcats

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The question is not who is our strategic partner; the question is what is the right way to go. Now I do not think Iran with nuclear weapon is good for the World. It is a different matter whether the world can stop Iran from developing nuclear weapon. We have nothing to gain by being neutral. Did Iran have ever supported India in OIC (Organisation of the Islamic Conference)? The answer is no.

Now what is Israel is doing to Palestine. I do not know how many members support Israel’s action against Palestine. I am strongly against it. By supporting India in defense procurement Israel is not doing us any favour and we are paying for it. Israel knows that Pakistan may be assisting Iran in its nuclear program and it see Pakistan as a threat for her. So it is in Israel’s interest to have strong defense ties with India both in monetary and strategic terms.

In this world every country is working for its own national interest. The sooner we realize that we are alone in the fight against terrorism is better for us. We should never trust US. They are never trust worthy allies. The only country we can trust is Russia. We should only act in accordance with our national interest.

Regarding launching of Iran’s satellite; my view is ISRO should do it.
 

devgupt

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One thing that is missed out while criticizing India's vote against Iran in UN was that the resolution was sponsored by Russia and China itself.So when the two biggest allies of Iran are against it on a particular issue, it is perfectly safe for us to do so without offending Iranians big time.
 

Yusuf

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Let me put it this way. If Irans regime is overthrown if it continues it's path on nukes, we will not have to answer this question. A pro west govt there would be the best thing to happen there.
 

icecoolben

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Iran's hardline stance makes life difficult for countries who support it, as well. What extremist Hindutva is in India, is the islamic revolution in Iran. The problem is as a democracy on our own, self correcting mechanisms can adjust our policies. In Israel too, they can replace nethanyahu with a moderate in the next election. But that doesn't seem to be the case with Iran, its hardliners control power above the judiciary and franchise. So, in the long run Iran would definitiely be an adversary than ally.
 

S.A.T.A

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For any pro western govt to take power in Tehran would require tectonic shift in the Iranian political discourse.Anti imperialism and anti Westernism has been rooted in Iranian Psyche long before there ayatollahs and Islamic revolution.However a nationalist govt(the most likely successor to the islamist regime,if that ever happens)can be expected take a more moderate line on issues such as Israel and anti western and pro Jehad rhetoric.

While There is no need to choose between Israel or Iran,its imperative that Indian govt should not be seen as engaging the Islamic regime too closely.Till today South block has taken care to ensure that all Indo-Iranian affairs are strictly seen as a people-people interaction.When it comes to Iran there are issues which have a nationalist slant and then there are others that are strictly Islamist oriented,while India can afford to snub the later,it has to tread carefully with regards to the former.
 

warlock2

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I think we should not forget how the US used its influence world over to delay many projects in India specially which are releated to Space and Nuclear Energy...Does we closed the Doors for those Countries.... NO... As Henry Kissinger said onec.."there is no permanent Friends and No permanent Enemies".... Pakistan - US relationship is good example of tht......I hope Iran also understand the same...
 

Yusuf

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The vote in the IAEA cannot be the litmus to judge the indo iranian relations. It's only a vote to make sure Iran doesn't renege on it's obligations. If it hadn't done that and been clean on it's nuke path, such a stage wouldn't have arrived. Iran cannot hold this vote against India as it had invited it. Indias position is clear. It supports irans use of nuke tech for peaceful purpose as it is entitled under NPT, but not it's weapons program. Iran cannot expect India to support it on it's weapons program.
 
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I still don't undertand if Pakistan can have nukes what is the problem with Iran also having nukes??
 

Yusuf

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Iran is obliged under NPT, Pakistan is not.
 

F-14

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It is Important that we have both Iran and israle on our allies list sinces both are counter influnce Points to the Influnce of pakistan and turkey
 
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Iran is obliged under NPT, Pakistan is not.
North Korea was also in NPT until the 1990's, Iran needs to dropout and continue with their nuclear program,so even being NPT signatories 2 countries will become nuclear weapon state one gets no punishment and the other because they are still signatory should be punished? Effectiveness of the NPT comes into question as it has for decades.
 

Yusuf

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NK pulled put long back and then became a nuke power. Iran will not be given that option. The day it leaves NPT it will become obvious that it has a strategic program and not a civilian one and invite the US and its allies to attack.
 
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They have the threat of being attacked either way best option for them is to stay in the NPT complete their nuke ,then pull out and test to also spite the CTBT; and let others know they have a working nuke ready.
 

icecoolben

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Us discarded pakistan after the soviet withdrawl primarily due to its nuclear programme. F-16 meant for pakistan were withheld, fellowship programme stalled etc. But, due to chinese leverage, north korea's emerging threat, libya, sudan trying to develop nuclear weapons and saddam's wmd rheotic. Pakistan's islamic nukes and proliferation by a.q khan had to take a back seat. Finally when Us closed its curtains on pakistan by 2000 and prepared for a clean up, the war on terror started. Now they again are pouring dollars into pakistan's arsenal. The international community hasn't let pakistan off the hook yet, the occasional reports of a.q khan and pakistan loose nukes are to that. After the Iranian question, north korean problem and afghanistan war get over, legal course on pakistan will take place. By this time Pakistan would be china's Israel, insulated by its veto. In the mean time, there is also the dirty way, of employing special forces to take its arsenal by pointing to the militancy, instability and failed state theory. Pakistan will always be regarded as a rogue nuclear power, not on par with India. But Iran-north korea etc.

Iran could be headed for a collision course right now, air strikes may happen that senario could make pakistan s*** in their pants.
 

NSG_Blackcats

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Neither Iran nor Israel is our strategic partner. For me India only has one strategic partner and that is Russia. France is interested with a partnership because of monetary issues. India does not have much to gain by having either Israel or Iran as a strategic partner.
 

Emperor

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It dont necessarily have to be a strategic partnership, but having a mutual relationship with both parties on board the same ship but in different cabin is preferred since the parties produce a TNT explosion if had them in same cabin.

And a dealing with both parties should be processed in such a way that ,the second one dont necessarily have to bother due to the relationship with the first.
Both Iran and Israel offers different values to India.
Did any one noticed the names of the 3 countries? :D(anyways that I thing is only a matter of fun)

Relationship with the Israel needs to be nurtured with technological gains and controlling the same technology to be passed onto China
And Israel becomes an ACE when dealing with Pakistan in general.I would like to hint at the mutual sharing of intelligence regarding pakistan.Israel provided a significant info during 99 war.And hedging on Israel needs to be considered with a relatively retro-prospective manner ,since Israel need US more than us and the implications of over use needs to be consolidated if any.
I would also like to say that mosad is faring better than RAW in gathering external intelligence.Hence it would be an additional asset onleee if we have Israel onboard the ship.

And the interests of having Iran onboard are kind peculiar,but needs to be considered with a pinch of salt.Iran is a gateway to persian gulf.Its a gateway to Afghanistan and CAR.Hedging on Iran leverages both pakistani and chinese and US interests in the same region.It gives a strategic advantage to India ,while considered with other parties.And it is clear that Iran`s cuddling with nuclear ambitions will get it deserted if anything goes wrong.And apparently one part that jumps in ,to strike deals with such deserted countries is china.But for a china living in the far east to have a successful relationship with Iran is relatively depended on the Iran-Pak relationship.Since India has no need of such cuddling and meddling ,an Indo-Iranian should be considered outside the interference of US and co.
But the relationship with a wanna be nuclear Iran is a dual edged sword.Need to use the sword by keep it at a distance.
OTOH ,a non-nuclear Iran(forever) will give a significant mileage to India`s growth.
 

Vladimir79

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Lets look at the trade. India-Israel trade in 2008 = $4 billion, India-Iran direct trade $13 billion. Real Iranian trade is actually $30 billion as India goes through third countries (UAE). Most of the Israeli trade was imported weapons which doesn't help the Indian economy. India and Iran trade in 55 items in sectors such as auto, pharmaceuticals, engineering, and petroleum, among others. Without India and Russia developing the Iranian economy, it would collapse. Looking at the numbers, it really is a no brainer who is more important, Iran is overtaking even China in trade.
 

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