In this episode of Worldview, we discuss whether India has a role in ending global conflicts. Also, does the Indian govt need a new protocol to protect those seeking jobs in conflict zones? We are looking at two separate aspects of the MEA’s role – one on mediation, the other on how to protect emigrants. But first, the latest in the Israel war on Gaza that is entering its sixth month shortly. The condition of about 2 million people in Gaza, crowded into the Southern part of the strip gets more direct by the day- with homes bombed, no access to food or clean water, and no way out. This week, 112 people were killed as crowds awaiting aid thronged trucks and Israeli soldiers manning the convoy opened fire on them. 1. The clock is ticking on an Israel-Hamas ceasefire plan, which US President Biden had said would be done by Monday, but now many believe will come in by the beginning of Ramzan on March 9 or 10th. 2. More than 30,000 have already been killed, 70,000 injured- mostly women and children, in Israeli bombardment and ground operations in retaliation for the October 7 terror attacks in Israel that left about 1140 dead. 3. The ceasefire would pave the way for more hostage releases by Hamas- about 100 or so still remain in the group’s custody So far mediation efforts have been run by the US and Qatar- on behalf of Israel and Hamas. Egypt and Jordan have also been involved in the effort. Meanwhile to the other big conflict- Russia’s war in Ukraine, also mediation attempts have stepped up: At the request of Ukraine, Switzerland’s government is working on a peace conference later this month where they hope to bring both Russia and Ukraine to the table -Swiss officials are requesting India to attend, with the hope that India could play a part in bringing Russia to the conference, or even work on a ceasefire -And like with Israel, India has spoken to both Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but not offered any criticism A word on the MEA’s policy for emigrants in conflict zones: 1. India discourages the travel of Indians to conflict areas, and the MEA repeated that in a statement this week. This was in response to a number of articles in The Hindu, authored by my colleague Vijaita Singh 2. The MEA controls and vets the emigration of workers to 18 countries including some conflict zones- Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Sudan and South Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. 3. As the number of Indian expatriates has increased- Indians are increasingly stuck in conflicts – this week the MEA admitted that about 20 Indians who had travelled to work in Russia had unwittingly been taken to the front for fighting, and India is now negotiating their discharge from the Russian Military 4. In addition, at the request of Israeli PM Netanyahu, the government green-lighted the recruitment of Indian construction workers to replace Palestinians who have been banned from working in Israel after the attacks. The worry now that they too could be taken into conflict areas , including occupied territories or Gaza. 5. Clearly, there is a need for a new policy that updates global conflict zones, and makes it mandatory for those travelling there to have vetted contracts, full information of their deployment and insurance paid by employers. More in The Hindu editorial WV Take: As global conflicts spread, it is harder for India to remain uninvolved in their resolution- but credibility that comes from being truly neutral in a conflict, can often be the first casualty to any mediation efforts. At the same time, New Delhi has to step up its controls of Indians going into conflict zones, lest they too be seen as partisan in the problem, and are targeted. WV Reading Recommendations: On Mediation: 1. The Mediator A Biography of Martti Ahtisaari: by Merikallio and Ruokanen 2. DIPLOMACY by Henry Kissinger (1995) 3. To End a War: The Conflict in Yugoslavia--America’s Inside Story--Negotiating with Milosevic 999 by Richard Holbrooke, as also Our Man by George Packer 4. A Journey: My Political Life by Tony Blair- on the Irish peace process 5. Ulfa: The Mirage of Dawn by Rajeev Bhattacharya 00:00 - 00:51 Intro 00:52 - 02:42 Latest on Israel war 02:43 - 03:22 Russia's war on Ukraine 03:23 - 04:14 What has been India's role in these conflicts? 04:15 - 04:55 India’s history in Mediation 04:56 - 06:28 India has had little interest in mediation for a number of reasons 06:29 - 08:47 MEA’s policy for emigrants in conflict zones 08:48 - 09:40 WV Take 09:40 - 11:37 Reading Recommendation Links: https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/lives-and-livelihoods-on-perils-and-the-indian-emigrant/article67896295.ece https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/indians-hired-as-russian-army-security-helpers-forced-to-fight-on-ukraine-border/article67868196.ece Script and Presentation: Suhasini Haidar Production: Gayatri Menon and Shibu Narayan