Former RAW director Vikram Sood praised India’s equilibrium in addressing West Asia’s turmoil during a Friday interview. He urged global powers to step back from regional imbroglios, allowing direct participants to forge solutions.
‘India’s stance is balanced and astute,’ Sood remarked. ‘Outsiders shouldn’t thrust themselves into these matters. We lack the mandate to resolve them; it’s the region’s duty. Unwarranted involvement achieves nothing.’
Turning to intel paradigms, Sood advocated visionary planning as new technologies upend global security. ‘You can’t skim the surface on intelligence strategy,’ he warned. ‘Agencies need perpetual upgrades for 20-year relevance, especially integrating AI advancements thoughtfully.’
Sood flagged evolving power structures: a superpower’s decline risks relational volatility, compounded by India’s suboptimal China relations.
The Raisina Dialogue earned high marks as a premier strategic conclave. ‘Among India’s top dialogues, it boasts a vast canvas of vital, prospective themes. Participation and focus on it are encouraging.’
In a world of flux, Sood’s views highlight India’s diplomatic savvy, prioritizing restraint over rash action in West Asia.