Saudi Arabia’s role
The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in India on Tuesday. The Saudi Prince who has been in the limelight for various reasons has given an impression that he will be playing a proactive role in world politics.
This is evident from the visits he undertook and the plans he has for his old as well as his new allies. The Crown prince was in Pakistan for two days and it was a mere coincidence that a militant attack took place in Kashmir that not only shook the region but ripped apart the already fragile relations between India and Pakistan.
Both the countries have taken drastic step of not only recalling their ambassadors but even more strict postures are being planned by the two arch rivals which will spell doom for the entire south Asian region that is already grappling with various other issues.
Though India has said that it is going to raise the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia has hinted that it will play the role of a peace ambassador between the two nations. Pakistan has already hinted that it wants peace with India and if Saudi Arabia is planning a peace pact, they have no issues.
Ahead of the visit by the Crown Prince, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in Islamabad that Riyadh will try to de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the deadly attack in Pulwama by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad.
Pakistan on its part has already briefed the Crown prince and now when he arrives in India, here too he will be briefed about the situation and the way things are panning out after the Pulwama attack.
There has been a change in the way Saudi Arabia looked at relations between India and Pakistan and that the powerful Gulf nation has economic and other interests in the two nations.
India has been identified as one of the eight strategic partners with whom Saudi Arabia intends to deepen partnership in areas of political, security, trade and investment and culture.
Similarly, the Saudi Arabia has already inked many pacts and deals with Pakistan ending year’s long bottlenecks between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia also sees a role for itself in the new geo-political scenario and its fight against extremism and terror. The country has been providing India information and intelligence about various terror networks. The two countries had inked a pact on exchange of intelligence related to money laundering and terrorism during Modi’s visit to Riyadh in 2016.
Moreover, India’s bilateral trade with Saudi Arabia was USD 27.48 billion in 2017-18, making Saudi Arabia its 4th largest trading partner. Saudi Arabia is also a key pillar of India’s energy security, being a source of 17 per cent or more of crude oil and 32 per cent of LPG requirements of India.
Interestingly, the Saudi leadership wants to play the role of a participant in Pakistan’s potential rather than as a benefactor that it has been in the past. The shift in approach points to new leadership styles and also signals an economic move away from oil as Riyadh diversifies its economy while actively seeking investments for new projects.
Pakistan and India could provide human resources for Saudi growth plans. It’s a practical broadening of ties which is in the best interest of both sides. Riyadh realises Pakistan’s and India prosperity is vital for a more stable Middle East and South Asia. Extremism can be wiped out through economic progress and Saudi Arabia, by being a proactive partner, hopes Pakistan and India can turn the tide. And in achieving so, the issue of Kashmir too can be worked out between the two arch rivals.
KV Network
