“As the world copes with the unending political tragedy in the Middle East, Hardeep Singh Puri offers a trenchant critique of the Western use of the military force and the abuse of the United Nations Security Council that are now widely seen as contributing to the regional crises. The severe judgements of Puri who served as India’s envoy to the United Nations in both Geneva and New York, do not stem from the traditional Indian obsession with the principles of territorial sovereignty and non-intervention. They emerge from Puri’s first-hand experience at the UN Security Council during 2011-12, when India served as a non-permanent member and was eager to establish its credentials as responsible global power. Puri’s call for military prudence and revitalization of multilateralism are also shaped by India’s failed intervention in Sri Lanka’s ethnic crisis. Perilous interventions captures an important moment in India’s international experience and is a major contributor to the international debate on when, where and how to use military force”