The much-hyped visit of Israeli Prime Minister, Arial Sharon, to India has generated a heated debate regarding the present and future of Indian diplomacy in West Asia, especially in the aftermath of the Iraq war. The Indian desire to strengthen its relation with Israel, a section believes, will prove detrimental to its relations with Arab countries and in turn will have a negative impact on its interests in the region. However, the other section stresses the need for greater co-operation between the two countries in the post September 11 global order. In order to understand the dynamics of this debate, we need to define the foreign policy objectives in the region that the Indian diplomacy is trying to further and the limitation of options that it has to achieve its goal. 

Diplomacy, as one understands it, is an art of the possible, to choose from the best available options for the realisation of foreign policy objectives. Today, apart from economic, ideological and the interests of the Indian Diaspora, one of the major concerns of India’s foreign policy is to counter the menace of terrorism. The cross border terrorism, has not only claimed innumerable lives and imposed costs on the economy, but also threatens Indian’s national integration. Thus, while assessing Indian engagement in West Asia, it will be necessary to do a cost-benefit analysis based on the defined foreign policy objectives.

Traditionally, West Asian politics has revolved around six countries, namely, Egypt, Turkey, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Israel. Under Jawaharlal Nehru and then his successors, Indian diplomacy chose to engage the first five and ignored Israel. This policy was in conformity with Indian foreign policy objectives – uninterrupted supply of oil, containment of Pakistan, the Islamic factor, security of the Indian Diaspora and their remittances, and strengthening of Non-Aligned Movement in the region. The success of this policy was more due to the personal rapport that Jawaharlal Nehru enjoyed with the leaders in the region and the dynamics of the Cold War.

However, the Gulf War of 1990 and the end of the Cold War changed the character of the region. Economic and military blockade by the US rendered Iraq insignificant in West Asian politics. With the exception of Iran, Egypt, Turkey and Saudi Arabia had become client states of the US and were more interested in being a part of American foreign policy than developing independent foreign policies of their own. The ruling elite of these countries were more concerned with increasing internal threats to their regime and therefore needed strong American presence in the region. The American influence in the region was evident in the Oslo peace process in 1992 that was supported by the Arab states. The signing of this agreement opened the doors of 64 countries including India, for Israel.

Ever since, the strengthening of bilateral relationship between India and Israel has provided dividends to India. In economic terms, the bilateral trade crossed $ 1.3 billion last year with India becoming the biggest trading partner of Israel. Twenty-two deals were struck between Indian telecom companies and their Israeli counterparts and Israeli venture capital wrapped up a $7 billion deal in India in May- August 2003. One of the important agendas of Arial Sharon’s visit has been to give impetus to the economic cooperation between the two countries. However, it is the defence and strategic cooperation between Israel and India that forms the meat of their relationship. Defence cooperation ranges from the sale of Phalcon Airborne Warning System to India to the training of Indian soldiers in anti-insurgency operations.

Besides, more important is the strategic alliance developing between the two countries. It includes the exchange of intelligence on terrorism. Both countries are plagued by this menace of terrorism having roots in west Asia. While terrorism in Israel is perpetuated by the terrorist organisations from West Asia, in Indian case, there is a close cooperation between the terrorist groups operating in Jammu and Kashmir and those active in Israel. And more importantly, the fact cannot be ignored that huge amount of logistical support in the form of money and arms originate from West Asia for the terrorist organisations active in Jammu and Kashmir.

Similarly, the burgeoning alliance between the Jewish lobby and Indian lobby in America has left the once powerful Pakistan lobby in the cold. The alliance inspired an amendment in the American congress requiring the State Department to certify Pakistan’s compliance on terrorism and the defeat of the pro-Pakistan Congress women Cynthia McKinny in the elections.

Now if one argues that the emerging relationship between India and Israel is the prisoner of Islamic factor, they are wrong. Today, peace is more important in West Asia and in order to realise it, the PLO has even recognised Israel’s right to exist. This is important and the Indian Muslims are wise enough to understand the Palestinian desire for peace. As pointed out by the Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat in an interview with an Indian daily when asked about his opinion on Sharon’s visit to India, “We hope the visit will be a pressure for him to make real peace with your brothers, the Palestinians”.