India and Saudi Arabia are set to take forward their diplomatic engagements and strategic partnership to a much higher level and will be keen to play the role of “next security providers” in the maritime front as well in the region.
After the “very significant and successful round” of state visit by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Indian side is enthusiastic to see that the Prince himself has taken a keen interest in boosting the maritime and defence ties.
“India is interested in that area and on maritime security. Saudis too have same type of apprehensions and concerns on maritime security,” a source said here.
In this context, the Saudi Crown Prince and his delegation told the Indian side on February 20 meet that it will be a ‘good thing’ if India and Saudi Arabia come together and bring other countries in the region together.
“In fact….we will be next security providers along with others in the region,” the source maintained.
Sources said the concept for such cooperation and coordination was mooted by no less than the Saudi Crown Prince at the ‘restricted’ level bilateral talks between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
This concept will be taken forward as India too has ‘strong and deep interest’ in the region. “Efforts will be made also to bring other countries in the region together,” the source said.
Sources have said that Saudi Crown Prince’s visit was “extremely important and successful visit” and for the first time reflected Saudi regime’s agreement that essentially ‘Kashmir is a bilateral issue’ between India and Pakistan.
“The Joint Statement issued at the end of the visit said there is need for creation of conditions for ‘resumption’ of the comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan. This is exactly India has been stating…..that means what — the renunciation of terror (by Pakistan),” a source in the know of things said here.
“That is a very clear position we have had ……there was no ambiguity on the part of Saudis too and their understanding of Kashmir issue, that there is also clear recognition that it is essentially a bilateral issue,” sources said.
The Indian foreign policy engine room is also enthusiastic to note that the Joint Statement makes mention of Pakistan.
This came more than a decade after. “The last time that Pakistan was mentioned so clearly in an India-Saudi joint statement was in 2006. It was also a goody-goody stuff when both sides had “welcomed” the dialogue process between India (under Manmohan Singh) and the then Pakistan government under Gen Pervez Musharraf”.
Even as Saudi Crown Prince made no reference to Pakistan or even Pulwama attack in his media briefing in presence of PM Modi in Delhi, the Joint Statement was categorical – “His Royal Highness appreciated consistent efforts made by Prime Minister Modi since May 2014 including Prime Minister’s personal initiatives to have friendly relations with Pakistan”.
In more ways than one, India sees much importance Saudi side has sought to attach to its relation with India.
Firstly, a source said, even if Saudis were toying with the idea to ‘mediate’ for peace between India and Pakistan, they gave up once they felt the ‘anguish’ among Indian delegates on the Pulwama attack.
At the three-level talks held between two sides on Wednesday – one on one between PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince, in the restricted bilateral between two sides and later at the delegation level talks, it was emphasised that the Saudi side does not want to involve in conflicts and tension between India and Pakistan “without being invited” by New Delhi and Islamabad.
Sources also said that traditionally India’s relations with Saudi Arabia had ‘revolved around trade,oil, energy Indian expatriate working in the region – but over the decades, this has evolved. “It has especially evolved in last three years especially on the eve of and after PM Modi’s visit in 2016”.
Moreover, showing sensitivities to Indian sentiment, Saudi Crown Prince had ‘gone back’ to Saudi Arabia and avoided coming to India direct from Islamabad.
This also underlines that from the Saudi perspective its relations with India and Pakistan are independent of each other.
This is also a typical case of endorsement to Indian views. In fact, a day ahead of Saudi Crown Prince’s visit o India, Indian officials on Monday asserted that notwithstanding the fact that crown prince Mohammed bin Salman has made a visit to Islamabad just on the eve of his trip to India, the context of Pakistan is “irrelevant” to India Saudi Arabia relations.
“Over the last four-five years, we have seen a remarkable transformation in Saudi understanding. That is something that has genuinely happened,” the source said.
Regional ‘maritime security’ India-Saudi Arabia to play catalyst role
