By Afshain Afzal

In the latest development, Tel Aviv has given assurance to New Delhi that India’s United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon contingent and other troops totaling around 1,000 troops and French 700 troops deployed along the 120 kilometers Blue Line and inside Lebanon will not be endangered in case of ground Israel’s incursion. Israel’s military has warned Lebanese border communities to evacuate, hours after launching patrols inside Lebanon. However, the Indian Embassy in Beirut has advised Indian nationals to avoid traveling to Lebanon and for those already there to leave the country. There are nearly 9000 Indian nationals in Lebanon, with a majority of them employed as workers in small companies, laborers and supervisors construction sector, agricultural farms and digital enterprises. There are reports that many have joined the forces but further details about pro-Hezbollah groups could not be confirmed. As per the agreement between Lebanon, India, France and Israel Lebanese, Indians, French and Israel, the target would be hostile elements and the Palestinians. There is no doubt that neither Iran or Hezbollah would attack Israel and the US nor these countries will be attacked by them. 

We should have the background in mind that post-First World War, France was handed over Lebanon and Syria as mandate-territory, purposely designed to divide the Muslim world, especially with objectives that the Palestine state could not be able to rise again. The French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, who is on visit of Lebanon since 30 September 2024, and held meetings with Lebanese, Hezbollah and Indian officials unofficially confirmed the deployment of the French Navy and other foreign deployments at close vicinity of Lebanon but the same could not be confirmed. American Navy is already deployed there. There are plans to create strings of unrest from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to the shores of the Arabian Gulf and to Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Israel’s Defence Forces are preparing to move a large deployment inside Lebanon, where France has already deployed its troops so is the case with India. One wonders can France sustain pressure not to allow Tel Aviv and USA to snatch away French political position in Lebanon and Syria when the new French Prime Minister Michel Barnier is too careful to understand the dynamics and had told the parliament today about belt-tightening and more taxes to reverse the colossal and spiraling debts which sre the true sword of Damocles. The stage is all set for the heavy airlift and export of weapons in the Middle East, Sahara and MENA countries. There is no way out of disaster and chaos unless these countries come out of the regional disputes and stand united not to let the geo-political situation change. Empowerment of the United Nations Organization through review and amendments in the Charter can bring back peace and harmony in this world.