‘Embarrassment for Delhi’: Ex-military officers, analysts on US sinking Iran warship in Indian Ocean
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Former Indian military officers, diplomats and analysts have described the United States’ sinking of an Iranian warship off the Sri Lankan coast on Wednesday as a “strategic embarrassment” to the Indian government and a “blow to its regional credibility”.
The warship IRIS Dena was torpedoed by a US submarine in international waters. At least 87 persons died in the incident and 61 were missing. The Sri Lankan Navy had rescued 32.
The US Department of War confirmed that it had attacked the ship. It also released footage of the torpedo hitting the frigate, resulting in an explosion.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said that the warship, “a guest of India’s Navy”, had been struck without warning. “Mark my words: The US will come to bitterly regret [the] precedent it has set,” he said on social media.
New Delhi has not yet commented on the incident.
Former Indian Navy chief Arun Prakash on Wednesday told India Today that New Delhi “should convey our deep concern and displeasure” for bringing “maritime warfare to our doorstep without taking us into confidence”.
“To my understanding, even strategic autonomy needs to have some moral moorings and anchor,” the retired admiral told the news channel.
Prakash added: “This conflict is needless, open-ended, pointless and is going to bring nothing but grief and suffering to...