New Delhi, Sept. 17 -- Former diplomat Vidya Bhushan Soni on Thursday cautioned that India must carefully protect its Red Sea energy supply lines through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait while maintaining a balanced stance to avoid antagonising Yemen's Houthi rebels, characterising the ongoing Saudi-Houthi friction as a "side issue" compared to the wider Iran crisis.

Speaking with ANI, Soni emphasised that New Delhi relies heavily on oil and gas imports passing through key sea routes like the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. Because the Houthis control the Bab-el-Mandeb area, India must carefully balance its foreign stance so it does not upset the Houthis and jeopardise its energy supply.

"Now, from our point of view, you must und...