New Delhi, March 17, 2026 — An opinion piece published today has sharply criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to the ongoing US-Israel military campaign against Iran, accusing the government of three specific policy missteps that have undermined India’s long-cherished principle of strategic autonomy.
In an article titled “Modi’s three Iran blunders lead to one question—where’s strategic autonomy?”, Amitabh Dubey, a Congress member and former diplomat-adjacent analyst, argues that the Modi administration has strayed from India’s traditional approach of balancing ties with the West while preserving relations with key energy and security partners such as Iran and Russia.
The piece, carried by ThePrint, comes amid escalating tensions in West Asia following US and Israeli strikes on Iran that began in late February 2026. The campaign has reportedly targeted Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile infrastructure and included the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, according to multiple reports. Iran has retaliated, raising fears of disruption to global oil supplies through the Strait of Hormuz — a critical chokepoint for India’s energy imports.
# The Three Alleged Blunders
Dubey lists the following as avoidable errors:
1. Signalling a tilt toward Israel by proceeding with a Prime Ministerial visit to Israel on the eve of a war that “everyone and their uncle knew was likely.” The author says this move contradicted the need for equidistance in a complex region where India depends on Israel for defence technology but on Iran for energy.
2. Remaining silent on the assassination of Khamenei and initially instructing Indian missions worldwide not to sign Iranian condolence books. The government later reversed course and sent the Foreign Secretary — rather than a Cabinet Minister — to sign the book at the Iranian Embassy in New Delhi. Dubey contrasts this with India’s traditional stance of upholding a rules-based order.
3. Mutely accepting the US sinking of the Iranian frigate IRIS Dena just days after the vessel had participated in India’s MILAN multinational naval exercise (also referred to in some reports as part of the International Fleet Review). The warship was returning home when it was torpedoed by a US submarine approximately 40 nautical miles off Galle, Sri Lanka. Indian Navy ships and aircraft conducted search-and-rescue operations after receiving a distress call, but New Delhi issued no protest or condemnation.
The author notes that India co-sponsored a UN resolution condemning Iran’s subsequent attacks on Persian Gulf neighbours — a step understandable given ties with Gulf states hosting nearly one crore Indian expatriates — but maintained “strange silence” on the initial strikes against Iran itself. He adds that Indian ships are now reportedly “begging” Tehran for safe passage out of the Gulf.
# Government Position and Context
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has described the situation as the “reality of the Indian Ocean,” emphasising practical considerations over rhetoric. The Indian Navy has publicly detailed its humanitarian role in the IRIS Dena incident, stating the vessel was outside Indian territorial waters at the time of the attack. Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, has acknowledged India’s cooperation and assistance in the matter.
Opposition leaders, including Congress figures, have slammed the government’s response as “timid and fearful,” warning of risks to energy security and India’s credibility as an independent player.
The Modi government has consistently maintained that its foreign policy is guided by national interest and strategic autonomy. India continues to engage with multiple partners — purchasing Russian oil, deepening defence ties with Israel and the US, and preserving channels with Iran and the Gulf monarchies. Officials point to India’s role in multilateral forums and its refusal to join any formal military alliance as evidence of this balance.
# Strategic Autonomy Under Scrutiny
Strategic autonomy has been a bipartisan pillar of Indian foreign policy for decades, allowing New Delhi to pursue closer economic and security ties with the West without severing relationships vital for energy security and regional stability. Critics like Dubey argue that the recent handling of the Iran crisis risks eroding this hard-won independence, especially at a time when oil price shocks could hit the Indian economy hard — a lesson from the 1973 and 1979 crises.
Whether these criticisms reflect a genuine policy shift or partisan commentary remains a matter of debate. As the conflict in West Asia unfolds, India’s ability to protect its economic interests while maintaining diplomatic credibility will be closely watched both at home and abroad.
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