Pankaj Saran is a former diplomat with over 40 years of experience in foreign policy, strategy, and national security. He has served as India’s Ambassador to Russia and Bangladesh, Deputy National Security Adviser, and worked in the Prime Minister’s Office under Dr Manmohan Singh. He has also been posted at the Indian Mission in Washington, D.C. He is currently the Convenor of NatStrat, a Delhi-based independent centre for research on strategic and security issues.

In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, Ambassador Saran explains why India’s silence on the Iran war is being seen as aligning with the US and Israel. He says Pakistan is not a mediator, but a messenger in the conflict. He also talks about how Pakistan built close ties with the Trump administration, and whether India missed a chance to play a bigger role in stopping the war. The conversation also touches on the film Dhurandhar and why India chose not to retaliate after the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Timestamps

00:00 – Introduction

00:53 – West Asia War Overview

05:47 – Decision-Making in War

09:18 – India’s Stand on Iran War

12:16 – LPG Supply Crisis

17:52 – Gulf Nations Under Attack

19:55 – Warfare Strategies

27:41 – Pakistan as Mediator in Iran War

36:26 – Should India Mediate Iran War?

38:44 – Iran’s Global Position

42:26 – China & Russia's stand

58:38 – India’s Strategic Silence

1:04:45 – Can India Build AI Without U.S.?

1:08:57 – Did India Misread Iran Situation?

1:11:29 – 2008 Mumbai Attacks

1:22:45 – Dhurandhar Movie