At a moment when the conflict in West Asia is threatening the whole of the world order, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is playing a front line role in making efforts to defuse the crisis. He is speaking to leaders of the region and beyond to reinforce the point that dialogue and diplomacy were the only options to settle the issues and restore peace.
Many a leader in the world are talking of peace, but rarely is anyone talking in terms of making pragmatic suggestions in making it possible through de-escalation and then sitting across the table.
Perhaps, it is in the light of Prime Minister’s efforts that world-renowned thinkers and narrators have started pushing for India’s case for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
A renowned American economist Jeffrey Sachs, who also served as adviser to UN Secretary General, asked China to support India’s bid for permanent seat at the UNSC, as he felt that the two Asian powers can bring about stability in the world. This suggestion at this time points out to the fact that how much India is regarded in the world and necessity for it to assume bigger role in settling the world affairs.
As reported in South China Morning Post in its Sunday ( March 22, 2026), the Columbia University Professor told Beijing-based think tank Centre for China and Globalization on Friday ( March 20, 2026) that “China should support India’s bid for permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council “ and added that the “two Asian powers could overcome historical grievances and political distrust to inject stability into the world.”
This appeared to be appreciation of the role that Indian Prime Minister has been playing. He held conversations with the leaders in the Middle-East specifically stressing for ending the hostilities for stability in the world order. This has been his consistent theme in the talks with the world leaders, whether in multilateral forums, bilateral meetings or telephonic conversations with the leaders amidst the ongoing conflict worsening with every passing day.
Sachs said: “I believe that China should, after some discussion and negotiation, support India as the sixth permanent member of the Security Council.” He called for the two Asian giants to “settle the old British score and recognise that they achieve a great commonality of interests” to become two stabilisers of the whole world system.
At this critical juncture, the West Asian conflict is caught in no-exit zone. There is a lot of critical analysis that President Donald Trump is looking for ways to wind down the war that he initiated alongside Israel on February 28 , but there is no easy exit route . Iran, which has lost its top leadership in Israeli and American strikes is quite defiant. The country has defied all the forecasts that America- Israel would finish off war in few days, that has not happened – the war has entered its fourth week.
Israel has already made a bad situation worse by attacking Iran’s South Pars gas field, the largest in the world. This attack led to multiple Iranian attacks that destroyed energy infrastructure in Kuwait and other Gulf countries, including UAE and Kuwait. Iranian missiles targeted Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial city, causing extensive damage to the world’s largest LNG hub. It will take years and billions of dollars to repair the facility.
Prime Minister Modi, in his telephonic conversation with Iranian President Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday (March 21, 2026) condemned the attacks on critical infrastructure in the region, which, he said, threaten regional stability and disrupt global supply chains.
Modi encompassed all the attacks on the oil fields and refineries, gas fields and other facilities while condemning the attacks. This statement conveyed a message of fairness and genuine concern not just for India but for the rest of the world. No other leader in the world has condemned these attacks on critical infrastructure in such a manner. This condemnation was for all sides, and also demanded a halt to such atrocities on the oil and gas fields. The world, for no fault, will pay huge price for these attacks.
This conversation with the Iranian president is also significant because PM suggested and urged the Persian gulf nation to realise the “importance of safeguarding freedom of navigation and ensuring the shipping lanes remain open and secure.” There was a formidable suggestion, urging Iran to look at the real time picture as the chokehold of Strait of Hormuz is causing the trouble elsewhere. The blockage in the strait was hurting energy supply and security of several nations.
Modi’s suggestion was the excellent display of diplomatic outreach. It invoked India’s soft power to talk to one and all in a manner that would make them to heed the voices of reason and sanity to end a difficult situation which is becoming more difficult by day.
Trump had sought the help of NATO allies, and China’s help in sending warships to the strait to free it from Iran and regain the shipping in the waters free of any fear of drone or missile strikes. But none of the countries accepted this. Some remained silent, others simply said nothing doing, by claiming that it’s not our war. Threats don’t work. Modi displayed a sophisticated diplomatic approach which sounds convincing and persuasive.
This also shows the difference in approaches, which has been more on display at UN, and UNSC, in particular. The west has prevailed and the things have not been settled . The West has always amplified its anti-Iran line. The nations and media of the west have been justifying attacks on Iran. They have their agenda. At this time, there is a need for the UNSC to adopt a balanced approach that helps in injecting stability into the world. India has shown that, in past, and now too, it stands for peace. Therefore, it is important that Sachs appeal be heard and acted upon.
