India-West Asia relations are increasingly more intense and wide-ranging in scope and dimension.

Why ‘Look-West’?.

• A constructive and dauntless “look-west” policy from India would acknowledge the geopolitical significance of Pakistan.
• Rather than being an obstacle, Pakistan could become a link between the Indian subcontinent and the energy-rich region.
• Pakistan could also act as a transit route for the movement of people, goods and energy between India and the West Asian region.
• Pakistan has begun to move the self-perception of its location from geopolitics to geo-economics.
• More importantly, Pakistan’s ‘Look East’ Policy had developed considerably as evident from its admission into the security arm of the ASEAN.
• India will gain overland access to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Currently, India has to circumnavigate Pakistan and get access to Afghanistan through Iran.
• The essence of this policy was that an India-Pakistan reconciliation would be meaningful because it would increase the potential for regional economic integration in the subcontinent and also trans-regional cooperation between countries in Central Asia, South Asia and the Gulf.
• Resolving the Kashmir issue is vital for unleashing the geo-economic potential of the region. Pakistan itself has delinked its Kashmir issue with India and the construction of pipelines overland from Iran and Central Asia to India.
• The building of pipelines across Pakistan’s territory would also make it easy to construct highways linking India with Afghanistan and Iran.
• India could offer to negotiate trade and transit treaties involving all the 4 nations.
• India could also suggest cooperation with Pakistan in encouraging free trade between South Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council. Any permanent resolution of the Kashmir issue would inevitably involve creative political cooperation across the divided state. It would also necessitate the complete normalization of Indo-Pak relations.
• Projects like interconnected electricity grids, natural gas pipelines, and transnational highway roads will realise the new strategic conception of Pakistan as India’s gateway to the West. India, in turn, will be Pakistan’s gateway to the East.

India’s Priorities in the Gulf

• Energy Security: The region supplies nearly 60% of India’s total crude oil requirement in which Saudi Arabia is top supplier. The region also accounts for major fraction of India’s LNG import.
• Trade and Investment: The Gulf remains a favourite trading partner for India and the trade figures have been consistently going up especially with countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment from the cash rich Gulf region is also a priority for India.
• Palestine Issue: India has maintained its stand on the “two-state” solution between Israel and Palestine and has reiterated its support for all efforts for a resolution, including on the contentious issue of Jerusalem, which Israel has claimed in its entirety since 1967.
• Forging Strategic Ties: The support of Gulf countries is important for India’s bid for Permanent Seat at UNSC. India and UAE have elevated the relationship to Strategic Partnership.
• Protecting Interests of Diaspora: Protecting the interests of the 9 million strong Indian diaspora has been an important element of India’s policy priorities in the Gulf . The Indian diaspora in the Gulf is a major source of remittances. The Reserve Bank of India estimates that for the period of 2006-07 to 2009-10, the Gulf region accounted for an average of 27 per cent of the total remittance inflows to India. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the major source countries for the remittance.
• Military Cooperation: The growing threats of Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism have become concerns for both India and the Gulf countries.
• India has been deepening defence cooperation with countries like United Arab Emirates, Oman.
• India and Oman conduct regular bilateral exercises between their forces and Oman also provides refuelling facility to Indian ships and aircraft.
• India recently has secured access to key strategic Port of Duqm in Oman in Arabian Sea for military use and logistical support. It will further expand India’s footprint in the Indian Ocean region (IOR).
• This will strengthen India’s maritime strategy to counter Chinese influence and activities in the region.
• India and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to deepen their defence cooperation in a range of areas including military-to-military exchanges, training of personnel and defence production.
• Fighting Piracy: Piracy activities off the Gulf of Aden in the Indian Ocean have affected both India and the Gulf countries. For India, the security of the Indian Ocean is important for trade and energy security. Cooperation with the Gulf countries in fighting piracy would strengthen India’s presence in the strategic waters of the Indian Ocean.
• Strengthening Soft Power: In West Asia, India’s most distinct soft power asset is the diaspora and its role in buttressing a positive image of the country. Indian workers are often known for being peaceable, tolerant, and willing to work hard under harsh conditions. India’s policy of non-interference and neutrality are other dimensions of soft power. International Yoga was also celebrated in West Asian countries like UAE.