️ As Indians emerge from the vibrant celebrations of Holi, a festival marking the change of seasons popular across northern, eastern, and western India, they are confronting growing anxieties about the impact of the war with Iran on the nation. Concurrently, geopolitical experts are gathering in New Delhi for strategic discussions amid escalating regional tensions.

️ U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that an American submarine sank an Iranian frigate with a torpedo in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Sri Lanka. This incident has brought the U.S.-Israel war on Iran uncomfortably close to India's doorstep. The Sri Lankan Navy reported recovering 87 bodies and rescuing 32 individuals, with another 60 still unaccounted for.

️ The Iranian warship was departing India's southern port of Visakhapatnam after participating in the International Fleet Review 2026 (IFR) and MILAN 2026, the Indian Navy's flagship multilateral naval exercise. Sri Lankan Member of Parliament Namal Rajapaksa expressed concern in a post on X, stating, "If military activity of this scale is happening so close to Sri Lanka, the government cannot treat it as 'someone else’s problem.'"

️ The Indian government has not yet commented on the implications of the Iranian warship being sunk after leaving Indian shores. DW's request for a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs remains unanswered. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed "deep concern" for Indians in the affected region and strongly condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf nations.

️ Against this backdrop, the Raisina Dialogue 2026, India's premier geopolitical conference, has commenced in New Delhi. A significant number of Indians are worried about the conflict's domestic impact, with many having relatives in the UAE, friends and family in affected regions, and others facing losses due to the war's effect on the Indian stock market.

Source: www.dw.com