India’s Humanitarian Initiatives in Yemen and Iraq: Soft Power Diplomacy and Foreign Policy Objectives in West Asia
Introduction
India’s engagement with West Asia—geopolitically vital for its energy security, diaspora interests, and trade—has increasingly integrated a humanitarian dimension, particularly in response to crises in Yemen and Iraq. These initiatives are not isolated acts of goodwill but reflect the broader contours of India’s foreign policy, characterized by pragmatic realism, non-interventionist diplomacy, and the deployment of soft power tools to project India as a responsible and responsive actor in the international system.
India’s humanitarian assistance in these conflict zones has taken the form of evacuation missions, medical aid, developmental assistance, and engagement with international organizations. These efforts reinforce India’s image as a benevolent power, deepen bilateral goodwill, and strategically complement its multi-vector diplomacy in West Asia.
I. Humanitarian Initiatives in Yemen: Operation Raahat and Beyond
1.1. Operation Raahat (2015)
In response to the civil war in Yemen and the Saudi-led coalition’s military intervention, India launched Operation Raahat, a large-scale evacuation operation that became a benchmark for civil-military coordination in crisis response:
- The Indian Navy and Air Force evacuated over 5,600 individuals, including 4,741 Indian nationals and 960 foreign nationals from over 41 countries—including the USA, UK, France, and Germany.
- The operation, headquartered in Djibouti, involved INS Sumitra, INS Mumbai, and INS Tarkash, as well as C-17 Globemaster aircraft.
India’s ability to evacuate not just its own citizens but also those of other countries reinforced its credentials as a net security provider and humanitarian actor in the region.
1.2. Diplomatic Neutrality and Strategic Balance
India maintained a neutral diplomatic posture, avoiding entanglement in the Yemen conflict while ensuring operational cooperation with both Saudi Arabia and Iran—a testament to India’s balancing diplomacy in a polarized region.
1.3. Humanitarian Aid and Developmental Support
India pledged monetary assistance and supplied essential medicines and food materials to Yemen through its Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian Red Cross, aligning with its traditional emphasis on non-military, developmental diplomacy.
II. India’s Engagement in Iraq: Humanitarianism Amid Geopolitical Complexity
2.1. Crisis Management and Evacuation (2014–2017)
During the rise of ISIS in Iraq, India undertook several humanitarian actions:
- In 2014, India evacuated over 7,000 nationals, including nurses from Kerala trapped in Tikrit and Mosul.
- The Indian embassy in Baghdad remained functional throughout the conflict, coordinating evacuations and providing logistical assistance.
- In 2017, post-liberation of Mosul, India sent forensic experts to identify the remains of 39 Indian workers killed by ISIS—demonstrating institutional accountability and compassion.
2.2. Repatriation and Assistance to Displaced Persons
India facilitated the repatriation of distressed Indian workers and extended visa and travel assistance to Iraqis stranded in India due to the conflict.
2.3. Medical and Developmental Aid
India provided humanitarian medical supplies to war-affected areas in Iraq, especially to hospitals in Baghdad, Basra, and Mosul, coordinated via the Ministry of External Affairs and Indian pharmaceutical companies. India also contributed to the UN’s humanitarian reconstruction appeals.
2.4. Support for Capacity Building
India invited Iraqi officials, engineers, and healthcare professionals under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, enabling capacity-building in post-conflict reconstruction, governance, and healthcare—a key instrument of India’s South–South cooperation paradigm.
III. Humanitarian Diplomacy as an Extension of Foreign Policy Objectives
India’s humanitarian responses in West Asia reflect several foreign policy imperatives:
3.1. Protection of Diaspora and National Interests
- West Asia hosts over 9 million Indian expatriates, primarily in GCC countries. Ensuring their safety during crises—whether in Yemen, Iraq, or Libya—is a domestic imperative and foreign policy priority.
- The evacuation operations and consular services demonstrate India’s commitment to the welfare of its citizens abroad, enhancing the state’s legitimacy and political capital at home.
3.2. Projecting India as a Responsible Global Actor
- Humanitarian operations reinforce India’s self-image as a non-hegemonic, responsible rising power.
- Such missions support India’s claims to greater global governance roles, such as its aspiration for a permanent UNSC seat, by showcasing normative commitments to human security and multilateralism.
3.3. Balancing Strategic Ties in a Fragmented Region
India’s neutrality and humanitarianism serve as diplomatic buffers in a region divided by sectarian and geopolitical rivalries:
- India provided aid in Yemen while engaging both Saudi Arabia and Iran diplomatically and economically.
- India worked with both Iraqi government forces and international agencies without taking sides in internal political fissures or external interventions.
This reflects India’s principled pragmatism and strategic autonomy, avoiding entanglement while maintaining access and influence.
3.4. Enhancing Soft Power and Civilizational Diplomacy
- India’s humanitarianism draws from its civilizational ethos of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (“the world is one family”).
- Medical diplomacy, educational exchanges, and cultural initiatives amplify India’s soft power appeal in West Asia, distinguishing it from the region’s military-dominated external actors.
India’s emphasis on development, relief, and capacity-building contributes to people-centric diplomacy, fostering goodwill among Arab populations and governments alike.
IV. Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite these efforts, certain limitations and opportunities persist:
4.1. Limited Institutionalization
- India’s humanitarian actions have been reactive rather than institutionalized.
- There is scope for creating a dedicated humanitarian coordination mechanism within the MEA to synergize military, civilian, and diaspora networks.
4.2. Need for Multilateral Coordination
- While India has collaborated with the UN and ICRC, more proactive engagement in multilateral humanitarian initiatives could enhance visibility and operational reach.
4.3. Linking Humanitarianism to Long-Term Strategic Goals
- Humanitarian aid should be strategically linked to economic diplomacy, infrastructure development, and post-conflict reconstruction partnerships in countries like Iraq and Syria.
- This would enable India to transition from a reactive responder to a developmental partner in West Asia’s evolving order.
Conclusion
India’s humanitarian initiatives in Yemen and Iraq underscore the growing maturity, responsiveness, and normative depth of its foreign policy in West Asia. Far from being isolated acts of charity, these interventions reflect India’s broader strategy of combining strategic interests with ethical commitments, balancing major rivalries without compromising autonomy, and enhancing regional influence through soft power and developmental diplomacy.
As the geopolitical landscape of West Asia continues to evolve, India’s ability to institutionalize and scale its humanitarian engagement will determine the depth of its regional footprint and the credibility of its global aspirations. In a region marked by volatility and fragmentation, India’s humanitarian diplomacy offers a bridge of stability, compassion, and strategic trust.
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