INDIA’S INCREASING RELATIONS WITH PERSIAN-GULF STATE; IMPLICATION FOR PAKISTAN

Abstract

The study tries to find out the ever-growing relationship of India with the Gulf States. It also finds out the real impetus behind the urge of both sides to expand their cooperation beyond the traditional trade in the energy domain to a more strategic and military alliance. It looks into the relationship between the two sides from a historical perspective. Then it finds out the ever-increasing relation of India with Individual states such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait Bahrain and Oman in multiple sectors of energy, politics, economy, culture and education. Further, it also finds out how the growing relationship between India and the Gulf states impacted Pakistan. This study tries to find out how Pakistan policies vis-à-vis Gulf states have changed the scenario in favour of India. Specifically, Pakistan has shown neutrality in Intra Arab conflicts such as the war in Yemen, the Qatar Blockade and the Iran nuclear negotiation with the western states. Along with Pakistan‘s neutrality and India‘s emergence as a resilient economy, Gulf States have tilted towards the latter and forged a steadily increasing cooperation in the multifaceted domain. With the expanding Indian cooperation with the Gulf States, Pakistan has faced severe political, economic and strategic implications.