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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Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal's Opinion Piece 'After Iran strikes Israel in ‘self defence’, what a full-blown conflict could look like' has been published in India Today on 15 April 2024.

The big question that remains unanswered is whether this will mark the end of it or escalate into an all-out war, says Col Agarwal.

Assistant Director Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Prelude to conflict? Israel's Gaza exit, tense Eid and Iran's guessing game’ has been published in First Post on 11 April 2024.

It is difficult to say whether Israel has been successful in finally baiting out Iran to join battle directly this time or whether Iran was waiting for such a ‘red line’ to be crossed so that it could declare war legitimately on Israel, says Col Agarwal.

Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Middle East on brink as Iran vows massive retaliation against Israel’ was published in India Today on 05 April 2024.

If Iran retaliates directly, for the first time in decades, the ensuing conflict could spiral out of control, says Col Agarwal.

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Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Gaza war needs a smart exit strategy’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on 03 April 2024.

Ineffective UNSC resolution on ceasefire and attack on Iranian consulate in Syria signal danger of escalation, says Col Agarwal.

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Assistant Director, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Col Rajeev Agarwal’s opinion piece ‘Modi’s Success Story in West Asia’ was published in ‘The Diplomat’ on 22 March 2024.

If there was one region that stood out in Indian foreign policy during Modi’s second term, it was West Asia, says Col Agarwal.

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