New India-UAE ties will hurt Pakistan bad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's August 16-17 visit to the UAE was surprisingly productive. Even accounting for developments in west Asia that threaten the stability of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and oblige them to look at the issue of religious extremism differently than before, the convergence between India and the UAE on the subject of terrorism is politically remarkable.
India, long a victim of jihadi terrorism promoted by Pakistan, has not obtained any support on this issue from the GCC countries all these years. Individual Islamic countries, with some of which we have flourishing economic ties, have ignored Pakistan's use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy against us, not the least because of religious affiliations.
Partnership
The UAE has had very close all-round ties with Pakistan. It was one of the two countries that recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. It has, along with Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, played the extremist Sunni religious card to inflame West Asia. Just as some of the jihadi groups patronised by Pakistan have turned against the state and are causing terrorist mayhem in the country, the phenomenon of the Islamic State too is no longer under the control of those who let loose extremist Sunni forces in a bid to topple the Assad regime in Syria and counter Shia Iran's regional influence.
Over the years Pakistan has benefited from the UAE and Saudi largesse in several ways. Both countries expected Pakistan to join them in their military operations in Yemen and have felt let down by its unwillingness to do so, in view of its relations with Iran. The UAE has let it be known that Pakistan would pay a price for this.
Despite the presence of 2.5 million Indian workers and bilateral trade of almost $60bn - making it India's third largest economic partner - it is after 34 years that an Indian prime minister has visited the UAE. The joint statement issued on the occasion is remarkable in many ways. It announces "the start of a new and strategic partnership" between the two countries. On the issue of religious extremism and terrorism, it reflects an unprecedented convergence of views between an Islamic country and India, especially with Pakistan in mind. It says that the two countries "condemn efforts, including by states, to use religion to justify, support and sponsor terrorism against other countries", which is a clear allusion to Pakistan. Even more explicitly, it says that "they also deplore efforts by countries to give religious and sectarian colour to political issues and disputes, including in the west and south Asia, and use terrorism to pursue their aims". India has not received such support on its position on Pakistani-sponsored terrorism from any other country, including those like the US that are engaged in a global war against terrorism.
Cooperation
India and the UAE have agreed to "coordinate efforts to counter radicalisation and misuse of religion by groups and countries for inciting hatred, perpetrating and justifying terrorism or pursuing political aims". In a further swipe at Pakistan, the joint statement says that both sides "denounce and oppose terrorism in all forms and manifestations, wherever committed and by whomever", and call "on all states to reject and abandon the use of terrorism against other countries, dismantle terrorism infrastructures where they exist, and bring perpetrators of terrorism to justice". Another Pakistan-directed formulation is the call to "all nations to fully respect and sincerely implement their commitments to resolve disputes bilaterally and peacefully, without resorting to violence and terrorism". This all-embracing focus on terrorism is further reflected in the agreement to "enhance cooperation in counterterrorism operations, intelligence sharing and capacity building". The Indian proposal for a comprehensive convention on international terrorism, which has languished in the UN because of the Arab opposition, has now received the UAE's support with the two sides agreeing to work together for its adoption.
Commitment
The decision to hold a dialogue both between the national security advisors every six months and additionally, between the national security councils of the two countries flows from the decision to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership. So are the decisions to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean region together, promote interoperability for evacuation in conflict situations, fortify defence relations, including through regular exercises and training of naval, air, land and special forces, and work together in coastal defence.
On the economic side, the results of Modi's visit lie more in intentions expressed than in concrete commitments. The UAE investment institutions will be encouraged to raise their investments in India, including through the establishment of UAE-India infrastructure investment fund, with the aim of reaching a target of $75 billion to support investment in India's infrastructure, especially in railways, ports, roads, airports and industrial corridors and parks. The promotion of a strategic partnership in the energy sector, including through the UAE's participation in India in the development of strategic petroleum reserves, and upstream and downstream petroleum sectors is envisaged. The target of increasing bilateral trade by 60 per cent over the next five years has been set.
Significantly, the UAE has supported India's candidature for permanent membership of the UN security council, which Pakistan strongly opposes. Its decision to allot land for construction of a temple in Abu Dhabi was another notable friendly gesture towards Modi.
Let us see what Pakistan does to recover the ground it has lost in a key GCC country to India.