In the ongoing tussle between the US and Russia over the Ukraine crisis and NATO's expansion in the European theatre, India is under tremendous pressure to take a clear stand on the issue amid a precipitous standoff that threatens to slide into war. India's position on Ukraine at the recent Quad meeting was ambivalent and not appreciated by the US and Australia. Immediate de-escalation through sustained diplomatic efforts and addressing legitimate security concerns of all the stakeholders is the need of the hour and we should say so forcefully and publicly. India can ill-afford to have a major conflagration between two nuclear armed and diametrically opposed adversaries upon which both it depends for its energy and defence needs.
Rekha Sarin, Benaulim
