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The Pahalgam terror attack shocked India, with fears of an escalation in military tensions and a diplomatic fallout with Pakistan. However, India has strategically used this moment to bolster its diplomatic ties with three of Pakistan’s closest allies: Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Taliban regime in Afghanistan.
Context:
Strengthening Ties with Saudi Arabia
- Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Jeddah coincided with the attack, where he discussed the incident with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- The joint statement from Saudi Arabia and India condemned the attack strongly, marking the strongest language used in such condemnations. This is seen as a culmination of the strategic partnership between India and Saudi Arabia that began with:
- The 2006 India-KSA Delhi Declaration.
- The 2010 Strategic Partnership agreement which shifted Saudi Arabia’s stance on terrorism.
- Saudi Arabia’s cooperation has been key in the past, such as their role in securing the arrest of Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari (Abu Jundal), an LeT co-conspirator involved in the 26/11 attacks.
- Today, the relationship has moved beyond counterterrorism to technological cooperation and promises of $100 billion investment from Saudi Arabia.
Partnership with the UAE
- India’s relationship with the UAE has witnessed significant transformation, especially since the Strategic Partnership signed in 2017.
- Key moments include Prime Minister Modi’s multiple visits to the UAE, and most recently, the visit of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in April, reinforcing strategic ties.
- This marks a dramatic shift from the 1990s when India struggled to secure extradition requests, such as for Dawood Ibrahim, and faced limited support in events like the 1999 IC-814 hijacking.
Engagement with the Taliban
- India’s recent engagement with the Taliban regime in Afghanistan represents another important shift in diplomatic strategy.
- A surprise visit by India’s point-person for Pakistan-Afghanistan-India relations in Kabul resulted in a meeting with Taliban foreign minister Muttaqi.
- The Taliban issued a categorical condemnation of the Pahalgam killings, a marked departure from their previous hostile stance toward India and their historical collaboration with Pakistani agencies and terror groups.
Implications of these Diplomatic Moves
- Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the Taliban represent countries that have historically been seen as close allies of Pakistan, often limiting India’s diplomatic maneuvering.
- Well-timed diplomacy by India has successfully shifted the dynamic, pressuring Pakistan through these allies’ support against terrorism.
- This diplomatic success also highlights how India’s relations with these countries, once difficult or antagonistic, have evolved into constructive partnerships, underlining the power of long-term relationship-building.
