Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Israeli Strike in Rafah Kills 45 – A Tragic Mistake or a Strategic Blunder’ has been published by Centre Land and Warfare Studies (CLAWS) on 29 May 2024.

With international pressure failing to make any dent in Israel’s insistence to continue fighting, perhaps an internal dissent and fracture may be the only solution to bring about change in Israel and end to the war.

Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘The missing links in India-Middle East-Europe Corridor, as shown by the Gaza war’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on 25 May 2024.

Any conflict situation in the Persian Gulf poses a serious threat, but there are solutions, says Col Agarwal.

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Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘As Saudi, US Near A Security Deal, A Word Of Caution’ has been published in StratNews Global on 24 May 2024.

As Saudi Arabia and the US work on a security deal, it is worth recalling similar events of 4 years back. And a word of caution not to repeat same mistakes, says Col Agarwal.

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Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘With no clear exit strategy in Gaza, Netanyahu is trapped in a ‘Chakravyuh’’ has been published in First Post on 16 May 2024.

With Benjamin Netanyahu adamant that Hamas has to be completely eliminated and the Rafah offensive will go through, the situation is likely to become tougher for Israel in the coming weeks, says Col Agarwal.

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Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s Opinion Piece ‘Gaza war has roots in Trump’s flawed Iran policy’ was published in India Today on 11 May 2024.

Trump’s Iran policy was based fundamentally on whatever Israel thought of Iran. There was thus only one thread in this policy, i.e. Iran is enemy No. 1. Two important policy decisions were taken during Trump’s presidency which specifically affected the Middle East region, says Col Agarwal.

Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s article ‘Gaza war at tenuous crossroads as Israel spurns ceasefire efforts, risking regional escalation’ has been published in Frontline on 07 May 2024.

With Israel mobilising troops for a ground offensive in Rafah, it is just a matter of time before other countries are sucked into the conflict, says Col Agarwal.

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Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Rafah offensive and war in Gaza: Threat of a dangerous escalation’ has been published in First Post on 04 May 2024.

If Israel is allowed to get away with the Rafah offensive, it will definitely be the end of solidarity in the region for the Palestinian cause for a long time, and the ‘two state solution’ may be lost forever, something that Netanyahu has long proposed, says Col Agarwal.

Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Iran’s nuclear programme: The forgotten deal but a lurking threat’ has been published in WION on 26 April 2024.

While it is being presumed that both countries would call it quits as far as directly targeting each other’s territory is concerned, the threat of escalation remains alive. Days later, on April 23, Iran’s President Raisi, during his visit to Pakistan, was quoted saying that the ‘Zionist regime’ will be destroyed if Israel attacks again in Iran, say Col Agarwal.

Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Can Israel and Iran Call it Quits? What About a Ceasefire in Gaza?’ has been published in Raksha Anirveda on 23 April 2024.

The continued strife between Israel and Iran gains significance, as it may turn the localised war in Gaza into a regional war. A conflict in which no western or middle-eastern power is ready to be involved in; options for Israel remains very limited, says Col Agarwal.

Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Understanding Iran’s strategic patience and why it is over now’ has been published in First Post on 18 April 2024.

Add the potency of proxies, and Iran suddenly emerges as a power like no other in the region. And, it has not yet gone nuclear!, says Col Agarwal.

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