Committed to fight against extremism - Arab News
By TALMIZ AHMAD
Published: Feb 28, 2010 12:55 AM Updated: Feb 28, 2010 12:56 AM
Indias ties with the people of the Arabian Peninsula go back several millennia when sailors and merchants from South Asia and the Gulf used to cross the Indian Ocean in boats constructed with teak from Malabar.
Our ancestors not only shared merchandise but, through this long and substantial contact, also exchanged ideas on culture, religion and society. As a result of this rich exchange, today there is a remarkable cultural affinity between the people of India and the people of the Arabian Peninsula. These ties have continued to be refreshed and enriched over the centuries. India used to provide most of the requirements of the people in the Peninsula, including necessities like food stuffs and textiles, as also items of gracious living such as silks and jewelry, and in return imported dates and pearls.
In the modern era, India admired the efforts of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to unify the various tribes in the Peninsula and bring into existence the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indians also supported King Abdul Aziz and the later rulers of the Kingdom for the attention they have devoted to all aspects of Haj management so that pilgrims from across the world are able to perform their Haj in peace and comfort.
Our bilateral relations have been strengthened with interaction at the highest level when King Saud visited India in 1955, followed, within a year by the visit of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Kingdom. Later visits were those of then Crown Prince Faisal to India in 1959 and the visit of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982. However, it is the visit of King Abdullah to India in January 2006, when he was our guest at Republic Day, that the foundations of the contemporary relationship were laid.
Through the Delhi Declaration, signed at the end of the visit, the two leaders committed themselves to pursuing a joint strategic vision to promote bilateral relations for mutual benefits as also for the peace and security of the region as a whole.
Based on the road map set out in the Delhi Declaration, our bilateral relations have been strengthened since then with regular visits at the ministerial-level and strong economic ties, based on substantial trade relations and investments. Today, Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth largest trade partner with bilateral trade being valued at over $25 billion. Indian investments in Saudi Arabia have also increased significantly since Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullahs visit and today there are over 550 small and medium Indian enterprises in the Kingdom with a total value of more than $2.5 billion.
A significant role in bringing the two countries together has been played by the Indian community, which has participated enthusiastically in all of the major development projects in the Kingdom. It is not surprising that Indians, now numbering nearly 2 million, constitute the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. In turn, the Kingdom is the largest source of crude oil for India, meeting 20 percent of Indias oil imports.
The visit of the Indian prime minister to Saudi Arabia provides an opportunity to the leaders of the two countries to review the regional and global scenario and further strengthen bilateral relations in the political, economic and cultural areas. Their dialogue will be extremely important since the two countries recognize the need to share perspectives in respect to our neighborhood, which is passing through a period of considerable instability and insecurity. The two countries are expected to commit themselves to join forces to combat the scourge of extremism and violence, which constitute a threat to all countries in the region.
Besides this, with the Indian prime ministers visit, bilateral economic relations will receive a special impetus, with India proposing increased Saudi investment in its energy and infrastructure sectors while the Kingdom, in turn, will seek an increase in Indian participation in joint ventures in the Kingdom in industry and knowledge-based services. This engagement of our two leaders and peoples is part of historical ties that go back several millennia and has served to define our common culture and our societal values, and have encouraged a strong desire on both sides to work together for the common benefit of both our peoples.
By TALMIZ AHMAD
Published: Feb 28, 2010 12:55 AM Updated: Feb 28, 2010 12:56 AM
Indias ties with the people of the Arabian Peninsula go back several millennia when sailors and merchants from South Asia and the Gulf used to cross the Indian Ocean in boats constructed with teak from Malabar.
Our ancestors not only shared merchandise but, through this long and substantial contact, also exchanged ideas on culture, religion and society. As a result of this rich exchange, today there is a remarkable cultural affinity between the people of India and the people of the Arabian Peninsula. These ties have continued to be refreshed and enriched over the centuries. India used to provide most of the requirements of the people in the Peninsula, including necessities like food stuffs and textiles, as also items of gracious living such as silks and jewelry, and in return imported dates and pearls.
In the modern era, India admired the efforts of King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to unify the various tribes in the Peninsula and bring into existence the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indians also supported King Abdul Aziz and the later rulers of the Kingdom for the attention they have devoted to all aspects of Haj management so that pilgrims from across the world are able to perform their Haj in peace and comfort.
Our bilateral relations have been strengthened with interaction at the highest level when King Saud visited India in 1955, followed, within a year by the visit of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Kingdom. Later visits were those of then Crown Prince Faisal to India in 1959 and the visit of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1982. However, it is the visit of King Abdullah to India in January 2006, when he was our guest at Republic Day, that the foundations of the contemporary relationship were laid.
Through the Delhi Declaration, signed at the end of the visit, the two leaders committed themselves to pursuing a joint strategic vision to promote bilateral relations for mutual benefits as also for the peace and security of the region as a whole.
Based on the road map set out in the Delhi Declaration, our bilateral relations have been strengthened since then with regular visits at the ministerial-level and strong economic ties, based on substantial trade relations and investments. Today, Saudi Arabia is Indias fourth largest trade partner with bilateral trade being valued at over $25 billion. Indian investments in Saudi Arabia have also increased significantly since Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullahs visit and today there are over 550 small and medium Indian enterprises in the Kingdom with a total value of more than $2.5 billion.
A significant role in bringing the two countries together has been played by the Indian community, which has participated enthusiastically in all of the major development projects in the Kingdom. It is not surprising that Indians, now numbering nearly 2 million, constitute the largest expatriate community in the Kingdom. In turn, the Kingdom is the largest source of crude oil for India, meeting 20 percent of Indias oil imports.
The visit of the Indian prime minister to Saudi Arabia provides an opportunity to the leaders of the two countries to review the regional and global scenario and further strengthen bilateral relations in the political, economic and cultural areas. Their dialogue will be extremely important since the two countries recognize the need to share perspectives in respect to our neighborhood, which is passing through a period of considerable instability and insecurity. The two countries are expected to commit themselves to join forces to combat the scourge of extremism and violence, which constitute a threat to all countries in the region.
Besides this, with the Indian prime ministers visit, bilateral economic relations will receive a special impetus, with India proposing increased Saudi investment in its energy and infrastructure sectors while the Kingdom, in turn, will seek an increase in Indian participation in joint ventures in the Kingdom in industry and knowledge-based services. This engagement of our two leaders and peoples is part of historical ties that go back several millennia and has served to define our common culture and our societal values, and have encouraged a strong desire on both sides to work together for the common benefit of both our peoples.
