THE ‘Hafez’ in this piece refers to none other than the oracle of Shiraz. The region is in the throes of war. Pakistan has positioned itself as a mediator and peacemaker. India is being criticised at home for ceding the role of regional stabiliser to a country it considers out of its league.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who was sent around the world to present the Indian case after Operation Sindoor, has been particularly scathing in his criticism of the BJP government. What the opposition, civil society and non-Godi media portray as ambivalence is actually the logical course of action for a government that has unambiguously allied itself with the murderous and genocidal Israeli regime. During his visit to Jerusalem, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Knesset, saying that Israel was the fatherland and India the motherland of the two peoples.

In all fairness, India and the UAE can decide what is best for their people and which course to take in their international relations. At our end, we need not get too excited about our newfound stardom and ‘utility’. The price we will pay for the role we have assumed should not be difficult to predict; the down payment is telling and embarrassing in equal measure. We........

© Dawn