Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's tour of Saudi Arabia when Pakistan's influence on Taliban and Al-Qa'ida is growing is considered extremely important. Editors of international newspapers are attaching great importance to the visit. This is the first visit of India's head of state to that country after 28 years. Before this, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited the country in 1986. Before Indira Gandhi, her father Jawaharlal Nehru had extremely good relations with Saudi Arabia.
The biggest proof of this was that India was strongly opposed to the illegal creation of Israel and was pro-Palestinian. But now it seems that India's foreign policy in the Middle East has changed drastically and it has devoted its complete attention to improving its ties with Israel more and more.
Developing Trade Ties
India has wide ranging trade relations with Saudi Arabia and the two countries have cordial relations. After the 2006 tour of King Abdullah to India, relations between the two and trade that stood at $500 million increased to $22 billion. Now a large portion of India's need for oil is satisfied by Saudi Arabia. A few years ago this position was held by Iran.
Some concerned parties are assuming that India is exercising foresight and is preparing for its future needs. Singh's trip is a part of the plan because relations between Iran and the United States are worsening by the day and the gulf between them is widening, and anything can happen between the two sides suddenly.
If the situation worsens and economic sanctions are slapped on Iran, India cannot show too much sympathy for Iran, although it claims sympathy for Iran at every forum. But it cannot show so much sympathy, so that Iran continues to supply India with oil. In such a situation it will be important for India that it prepares to satisfy its oil requirements from alternative sources.
Enlarging Relations
Policymakers feel that India is enlarging its relations with Saudi Arabia to fulfill its requirements for oil in case of war. And this is the view that is prevailing about Singh's trip to Saudi Arabia. A small proof of it can be seen that the country's oil requirement from 25.5 MMT has gone up to 40 MMT. Only time will tell how much truth there is in this conjecture. But otherwise also, Singh's trip is very important.
Regional cooperation and extradition of criminals, 10 such joint agreements have been signed. Experts are attaching great importance to the extradition of criminals because many of those involved in terrorism often take shelter in Saudi Arabia. Some big names of terrorism are involved in this, and many examples of it have been sited in the past.
India-Pakistan Talks
Minster of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor is also accompanying the prime minister. Can Tharoor be there and no problem arises? Is this possible? Here also, Tharoor reminded his presence and created a new problem. His suggestion that Saudi Arabia can act as a mediator between India and Pakistan proved to be a bombshell. This gave the opposition a new stick to beat the government with and no one can predict how the issue will play out.
However, it goes without saying that Tharoor statement was highly irresponsible because so far nobody has thought in terms of a mediator for the India-Pakistan talks. It has always been kept at a bilateral level. Without any warning, to issue such a statement was definitely an irresponsible act.
The opposition is sharpening its claws and waiting for Singh's return so that it can pounce on him. One has to wait and see that after Singh's trip to Saudi Arabia, problems are reduced or increase some more.
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