This paper examines the emerging India-Gulf countries bilateral economic relation which spread in various dimensions. To know the significance of this relation, the paper begins with highlighting historical background of trade relation over the five thousand years ago. The gulf region plays an important role in India’s trade, approx. 60 percent of oil trade of India imports from GCC states. As an emerging global power, India increased trade and investments in non- oil trade sectors which helps to boost strong relations. However, to secure energy and trade security, India looks west policy emphasized to expand political relation also. The paper attempts to trace and identify such impediments that impact on bilateral trade growth between them like China and Pakistan factor. Moreover, India maintains balanced political relations with GCC in various ways like soft diplomatic power, welfare of Indian migrant workers, expand of naval presence for energy and non-traditional security. Ultimately, the paper concludes that substantive relation requires to maintain both trade and political relations.

Keywords: India, Gulf Cooperation Council, trade relation, political relation, energy security

Since the early BC century, Indian monarchial rulers have been travelling and trading with Arab countries. During that period India was fragmented into small kingdoms. The rulers of south India build economic ties with gulf regional countries. It was evidenced that during 10^th and 11^th centuries Indian traders and artisans exported jewellery, religious icons, textile items and many kinds of ornaments in huge qualities and quantities.¹ Moreover, India was a center for pearl trade at international level that was reached up to European markets through maritime old silk route. It is important to note that Arab traders sometimes act as mediator for considered trade deal between Indian artisan traders and European consumers. On the other side, people of gulf region exported horses and elephants in large quantities along the Arab and African coast to India subcontinent region.¹ With the expanded trade size over the periods of time, Arab merchants eventually began to settle down on Malabar coastal areas like Kozhikode, Kochi, Quilon and Thrissur due to the arrival of monsoon for several months. Meanwhile, Islam religion migrated and expanded in the Malabar-coastal region. Therefore, the local population inter-marriages with gulf people have been growing and its influence reached to Sindh, Gujarat and Maharashtra. In fact, trade relationship strengthened and diversified during 18^th and 19^th century.

Some political scientists and archaeological evidence believe that India’s religious influence and cultural links was not much spread in west Asian countries as compared to south Asian countries like Indonesia where large number of people influence from Hinduism and Buddhism.² To highlight the importance of the Indo-gulf region, the economic interaction process gained momentum when British colonial rule over India for almost 100 years. After the Indian Independence trade relations continue to have been exist in reinvigorated manner. During the period of 1960s and 1970s, when oil was discovered in gulf countries Indian expatriates as laborers flocked to the gulf for getting employment and livelihood.³ Moreover, west Asian countries imperatives for manpower and human resources such demand fulfilled through imported manpower from India. It is interested to note that imported manpower from India dates to 1940s, when Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar required skilled and semi-skilled employees.⁴

After the 1990s India adopted liberalization and globalization which often considered to explore political relations with gulf countries so that to secure maritime trade and strategic interests with gulf countries. In a nutshell, India signed prisoner repatriation treaty with different gulf countries. Moreover, beyond the oil trade, India has investments and projects in infrastructural development with gulf cooperation council. Furthermore, it is need of hour for India to enlarge and expand its security involvement to protect maritime routes and directions from non-traditional threats like piracy, trans-national crime, Islamic terrorism, human trafficking and drug-trafficking etc.⁵ Although India has effectively been tried to be raised cross-border terrorism in Kashmir subject on Organization of Islamic Cooperation platform. Nevertheless, India took many years to convinced west Asian Muslim-brotherhood countries that Pakistan as a state sponsored terrorism. However, in the beginning of the 2000s New Delhi foreign policy evolved and enhanced which acknowledged to safeguard energy security to accelerate economic growth.²

To highlight the importance of the region, New Delhi adopted extended neighborhood policy called as “Look-west policy in 2005”. Indeed, as PM Manmohan Singh in his speech said that “the gulf region, like south-east and south Asia is part of our natural economic hinterland”. Thereby, New Delhi high-level decision-making authority realized to increase relationship and cooperation in the areas of maritime security, improved political relations and regional and international affairs. Therefore, Indian Ministries of commerce and external affairs started bargaining with gulf cooperation council to launched Free Trade Agreement, even New Delhi also interested to expand cooperation with individual member countries in services and investment sectors. Notwithstanding, gulf state members remain have negative perception to India like weak and nowhere in the western Indian Ocean.⁵

Vehemently, gulf countries are still dependent upon USA and European countries for providing maritime security. Speaking almost prophetically, New Delhi’s growing involvement in maritime defense, trade and politics sectors as natural-lead player which required fast capacity building with Arab-gulf states. As emerging global power, New Delhi also concerned about China strive to spillover in this region for the interests of oil trade and its Belt and Road Initiatives projects. Ultimately New Delhi requires to restore its vital interests such as expatriates' security, energy supplies, maritime security, protection of migrated Muslim community, food security, combat terrorism and foreign direct investments outflows to GCC countries.⁶

The open and liberalized economy adopted in 1990s, India diversified its trade relations beyond the neighboring countries. However, it is worthwhile to note here that India’s Look West policy launched in 2005 after the approx. 15 years of Look East policy. For the lynchpin of the gulf- region, New Delhi endeavored to synergize relations with west countries as natural step because of increasing vital economic growth and maritime security cooperation. As this article has argued, since the oil boom of the 1970s in gulf countries migrated-skilled labor from India reached for employment in Gulf Cooperation Council member states. GCC present members are Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait. Currently 9.37 million Indians working and living in 2024.⁷ Approximately 50 percent of the Indian diaspora living in the Persian-gulf countries. Moreover, Rupees 3.76 lakh crore, means 38% of the total remittances came from GCC as per FY 2023-2024. New Delhi imports large amounts of crude oil and liquefied natural gas to meet up its demands. To addition this, India’s demands are rising in the present time, as per FY 2023-2024, 35% of its total oil imports and 70% of its total gas imports from GCC.⁸

In the recent time, India imported crude oil in massive quantity at adequate amount from Russia during Ukraine-Russia War. Hence, 28% of imported oil was reduced from GCC in FY 2023- 2024. According to the Indian government reports, over 91% of the require energy will be import through gulf countries. Apart from this, the country seeks to short- and long-term contracts with Arab countries on public-private partnership model. India’s major energy sources imports from Iran and Saudi Arabia.⁶ As per Indian official documents, 4.88 million barrels per day of crude oil imports in FY 2024-2025.

During the corona pandemic trade relations continued to increase in commodities with gulf countries was valued at US$ 87.35 Billion in FY 2020-2021. In the same year, India-Asean trade was valued at US$ 78.90 Billion and with EU calculated to US$81.07 Billion.⁵ It reflects that India-Gulf countries have stupendous potential to accelerate economic growth in various sectors like health, energy, agriculture and amongst others. During the last FY 2023-2024, India-GCC bilateral trade amounted to US$ 161.59 Billion in which India’s exports was US $ 56.35 Billion, and imports was US $ 105.36 Billion.⁹ The reason behind of have being continue success of remarkable figures of trade relations is India-GCC framework agreement on Economic Cooperation signed on 25th August 2004 and India’s “Look West Policy”. Therefore, several individual members of GCC relations with India that discussed in following manner.

India-Saudi Arabia bilateral economic cooperation began to strong and boost when Saudi King Abdullah historic visited in January 2006.¹⁰ Similarly, PM Dr. Manmohan Singh reciprocal visited to Saudi Arabia, that was crucial momentum because of “Riyadh Declaration” signed in 2010 which declared “Strategic partnership” for enhanced cooperation in economic, political and maritime defense security. India’s one of the main source of imports crude oil is Saudi-Arabia. The large number of Indian diasporas living and working as skilled and semi-skilled employees. Thousands of Muslim faith people going for Haj under the quota. Saudi is the main actor in the West Asia politics regards regional conflicts like Iran-Saudi tensions, Yemen war, competition with China and rights and welfare of Indian workers in Saudi Arabia. Both countries jointly built gas-fertilizer plant in Saudi.⁶ However, India’s relationship got rapid momentum in culture, space, energy and defense when PM Modi visited in 2016, 2019 and 2025. Riyadh had huge investments worth $100 Billion in New Delhi.

Apart from growing partnership in economy, both countries increased people-to-people contacts, cultural ties and strategic relationship in science and technology, maritime defense, tourism, counterterrorism and oil reserves. Although Saudi private players and businesses FDI outflows in infrastructure projects, mining sectors and petrochemicals of India. As per FY 2023-2024, bilateral trade amounted to US$ 42.98 Billion.⁹ Additionally, India is the third largest crude oil importer from Saudi Arabia, whereas latter is fifth largest trading partner to India.

Both countries have historical, cultural, geographical and civilizational links which stretching over 5000 years. Their diplomatic relations started in 1955, with simultaneously mutual strategic partnerships and exchanges visited over the period. Indeed, India and Oman extending cooperation in tourism, health, space, extradition, agriculture, defense and maritime security.² In terms of bilateral trade, India’s exports major commodities like iron, steel, tea, coffee, spices, cereals, mechanical and electrical appliances, mineral fuels and oils. Whereas India’s imports are as oil, LNG, organic chemicals, fertilizers and bituminous substances. Moreover, Indian private firms have huge potential to invested over US$ 2 Billion in textiles, chemicals, steel and iron. There are many Indian private major firms like Aditya Birla Group, Land T Jindal, Shriram and EPIL which have been invested various projects in Salalah and Duqm cities of Oman (Duqm called as Little India). Even Indian private and public financial institutions outsourcing like HDFC, ICICI, SBI, Bank of Baroda, LIC, Air India and EIL have existence in Oman.

According to government records, India-Oman bilateral trade reached to US$ 8.94 Billion in FY 2023-2024.¹¹ Both countries have almost equal balance of trade such as India’s exports trade is US$ 4.77 Billion and imports from Oman is US $ 4.52 Billion. Recently, Oman’s Sultan Haitham bin Tarik visited India for G20 summit in 2023 (after the 25 years Oman Sultan came to India). Both leaders PM Modi and Oman Sultan encouraged and appreciated that negotiations on “Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement”.¹²

India and UAE have been diplomatic relations for several decades. However, a major shift in the trade relations when India adopted liberalized and privatized economy in 1990s. India explored different kinds of minerals, jewellery, gems, chemicals, engineering and electronic goods and equipment to UAE, whereas crude petroleum in huge quantity, diamonds and golds imported from UAE. Over the period, India-UAE trade and commerce relationship changed into “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017. After that several arguments and MoUs signed between them such as- MOU in the field of manpower, for technical cooperation in transport, Bombay stock exchange and Abu Dhabi security exchange, multi modal logistics hub in J and K and to explore oil storage facility.²

During the first historic visit of Indian Petroleum and Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to UAE, flagged off strategic petroleum reserves at Mangalore in 2018. Since the execution of Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement between them culminated, bilateral trade has almost doubled to reach USD 83.7 Billion in 2023-2024.^13–15

Additionally, CEPA aims to achieve target USD 100 Billion in the next coming years on non- oil trade. In present time, India’s third largest trading partner is UAE, having USD 35.62 Billion exports to latter country in FY 2023-2024. On the other hand, UAE’s second largest trading partner is India, having export USD 48 Billion in FY 2023-2024. Even UAE as seventh largest investor in India. Both countries have strong cultural ties as reflected when PM Modi inaugurated BAPS temple, the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi. Since the becoming PM, Narendra Modi visited seventh time to UAE, his recent visited PM Modi met with his counterpart Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE for deepen and strengthen relations regard regional and international events of cooperation and interest.⁹

India-Qatar established diplomatic relations in 1973. Both countries bilateral trade ties started in 1990, when agreement was signed to supply Liquified Natural Gas to India. India and Qatar specific relationship to improve and diversify in the energy sector. At present time, approx. 70% of LNG demand of New Delhi fulfilled from Doha. While talking about trade relationship, New Delhi primarily imported LNG, PNG, chemicals and petrochemicals, whereas Doha mostly imported wide range of textiles, pulses, cereals, iron and steel and electrical and mechanical equipment. On the FY 2023-2024, bilateral trade calculated to USD 14 Billion, which New Delhi exported trade at USD 1.7 Billion and Doha at USD 12.3 Billion.¹⁶ Both countries are also working on free trade agreement to expand FDI in infrastructure projects. Thereby, their future plans to double their trade to USD 28 Billion in next five years.

Both countries were also participated to build defense cooperation in the fields of exchange of maritime sea lanes of communication, naval and armed training and joint production of defense equipment. There were several MOUs signed such as- 1. On tourism cooperation 2. In the areas of sports and youth 3. In the health sector 4. In skill development and qualifications 5. On Qatar financial information unit and financial intelligence unit of India. As significance of bilateral relations, both countries leaders have been regular visited. Recently, PM Modi officially invited Amir of Qatar called Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani on 17-18 February 2025. In this context, India-Qatar expressed to further deepening ties on strategic partnership. Hence, both leaders signed an agreement on “Bilateral Strategic Partnership”.¹⁶

India-Bahrain has strong historic relations in terms of trade, cultural, civilizational and geographical links which spanning over many centuries since the Indus valley civilization of India and Dilmun civilization of Bahrain. To highlight the significance of the gulf cooperation council, Bahrain exported oil since 1970s. India was also a part of imported country to bought oil in large quantity from Bahrain. Due to its geographical location Bahrain acts as a gateway to the GCC. Indian diaspora has employed been many years approx. 3.4 lakhs living comprises quarter of the total population.^13–15 India established diplomatic relations to Bahrain in 1971. Presently bilateral trade has reached USD 1.7 Billion in FY 2023-2024.⁹

Major items exports to Bahrain are cars, ships, boats, jewellery, polymers, engineering goods, rice, fruits and vegetables. India’s imported items are oil, urea, copper, aluminum, mineral oil and fuel. During the COVID pandemic period India gifted 1 lakhs Covishield vaccines to Bahrain in January 2021. Similarly, Bahrain provided 40 million tons of liquid medical oxygen during second covid wave in May 2021 in India. There were several bilateral agreements between them in recent past years are as – on healthcare system, MOU on launched of “Rupay Card in Bahrain”, in the field of renewable energy, collaboration with International Solar Alliance, on cultural exchange programs, cooperation in combating international terrorism and on water resources development and management.¹² As per the data of Economic development board of Bahrain, India invested mostly in the field of financial services after that in real estate, hospitality, health, IT and education. Moreover, India ranks at sixth position as investor in Bahrain. While Bahraini investors into real estate, IT and engineering.

India and Kuwait have long and deep rooted traditional, cultural and friendly relations. Before the discovery of oil, its economy revolved around ship building, maritime activities, peal diving, fishing, horses and elephants trading to India. India exported pulses, cereals, spices, woods and clothes. After the 1970s of oil boom in Persian Arab countries India imported oil trade with Kuwait also. After the improved trade relations, India exported more products like electrical and engineering equipment, cars, trucks, tyres and iron and steel. In addition to, “Made in India” exhibition was held in Kuwait, 2017. Total bilateral trade with Kuwait in FY 2023-2024 was USD 10.47 Billion, which India exported to USD 2.1 Billion.^13–15 Kuwait mostly is the oil-based economy having crude oil reserves approx. 101.5 billion barrels whereas natural gas reserves calculated to 1,784 billion cubic meters. Indo- Kuwait completed 60 years of diplomatic relations, in such case, their political relations also deepened and strengthened since last decades ago.⁵

Their bilateral cooperation diversified in various fields such as healthcare, hydrocarbon, civil aviation, education, science and technology, manpower cooperation and cultural relations. However, it is worthwhile to note here that several agreements signed between them like Agreement on Transfer of sentences persons (2013), in criminal matters (2004), extradition (2004) and between ISRO and KISR (2015).^13–15 In recent years, PM Modi was officially invited by Kuwait’s Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. This was his first visited and attended 26^th Arabian gulf cup opening ceremony on 21^st December 2024.⁹

As we argue in this article that India-GCC relationships was great, historic and remarkable in every stage and momentum. The peoples of both regions used to travel, trade and exchange of cultural ties in many aspects of life. During the colonial period of India, bilateral cooperation underpinned due to Indian expats required to employed in oil industries of Kuwait and Bahrain during the period of 1940s and 1950s. After the Independence, India’s non-alignment approach led to came into the big frame of international politics. After in the 1970s and 1980s bilateral relations between them were limited only in terms of oil-trade, diplomatic ties and dialogue- process on the protection of Indian diaspora communities in Arab-gulf countries. Moreover, in the political manner gulf countries raised the concern of Kashmir issue in the favor of Pakistan in the era of 1990s.

On the other hand, New Delhi tries to expand bilateral trade cooperation through dialogue- diplomacy without intervened domestic policy of gulf countries. In the parallel effort, India has always been trying to convince over “Kashmir as an integral part” and “Pakistan as a sponsored-terrorism actor. But, nevertheless, India have been failed many times because Pakistan got supported from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Moreover, Islamabad helped and facilitated Riyadh through its military troops. Therefore, at the end of 1990s, New Delhi lacked to establish its political footprints and stakes in the gulf region.

As an emerging major global power increased economic and political investment reinvigorate to deal with strategic interests with gulf countries.¹⁷ Formers Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Dr. Manmohan Singh of India emphasized extended neighborhood policy. For the lynchpin of the Indian ocean, Arabian sea and Strait of Hormuz, New Delhi indispensable to influence its presence in the hinterland of the gulf region. This is significant opportunities for India to act as natural and major player amongst the others external powers like USA, Russia and China who are involved in the political dynamics of GCC. In a nutshell, Congress-led government adopted “Look West Policy” to strengthen relations in various vital fields are oil and energy sector, non-oil trade, welfare of Indian migrant workers, diplomatic-balanced role and response regard Iran illegally conserve nuclear testing, deal with counter-terrorism against radical Islamist groups and maritime naval presence to provides security and contain Chinese influence.

Thereby, then National Security Adviser M.K Narayan urged that “the main point is to ensure security and stability with major external state-actors from East Asia to Gulf.¹⁸ Speaking almost prophetically, when congress party came again into political power in 2009 launched maritime doctrine that discussed vital strategic interests to securing specific naval choke points for free flow of energy trade without non-traditional threats. While dealing with all these factors into an account, the PM Modi newly elected government recognized this region for engagement in maritime security domain and comprehensive defense ties. Therefore, in rhetoric manner, PM Narendra Modi leadership started to visit in GCC member states to acknowledge the interlinkage between Indian subcontinent and gulf region.¹⁷

In such way, there are many specific capabilities of New Delhi shows that how it could be strived to synergize relations with gulf members in the following ways are as-

As per India pursued soft diplomatic relations helpful for better understanding with GCC countries. India’s first foreign policy was neutral which almost means the characteristics of non-alignment movement under PM Nehru and during the Cold war era. Even, the panch-sheel doctrine represented as non-intervened in the domestic affairs of immediate neighbor states. This image shaped the culture of soft power diplomacy in foreign affairs. Moreover, its multi- cultural and religious diversities attracted and impressed the Muslim-Arab world and South Asia.¹⁹ Similarly, Former Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee pointed out that “traditional Muslim-heritage linkages between India-GCC helps to bridge gaps in security decision-making in 2005. Thereby many Arab world states were signed the agreements on exchanges of cultural programs and activities with India.

As such traditional existence alive today, evidence shown in 2015, when foreign diplomats applied non-intervened policy in civil war and political disruptions in Iraq, Libya and Syria. This approach complimentary for India helping to influence GCC states under the strategic partnership against the cyber-crime, maritime piracy and terrorism. On the other side, soft power positioned in well manner to pursued for reconciliation between Iran, sometimes Israel and the GCC.²⁰

As mentioned earlier in this article that migrant workers from India calculated to more than 9 million in the GCC countries. It shows significant role of skilled and semi-skilled workers to contributes to the economic growth of gulf states. Moreover, around 20% are the white-collar professionals in the MNCs. During FY 2023-2024, trade stood at USD 161.59 billion, exports to GCC were USD 56.3 billion and imports from GCC were USD 105.3 billion.^13–15 In fact, Indian expats played significant role to extract and export energy resources all over the country including India and China particularly. In such scenario, New Delhi have leverage position to dialogues and negotiations over strategic partnership in the defense sector to the GCC states. Apart from this, we all have been listening about Indian workers always respect and obey rules and regulations, peace-loving people with good gestures, hard-working and non-interrupted people in internal politics of the GCC world.

This is the big advantage for India to take-care and welfare of their diasporas, thereby, from the view of political security, India has official agreement on prisoner repatriation with west Asian countries including gulf regional members.⁶ Therefore, both India-GCC bilateral political cooperation indispensable for the future years because they are inter- dependent in the viewpoint of foreign remittances in huge quantity get New Delhi in every year and GCC countries required skilled labor, professionals and technical human resources whose contribution to facilitates economic growth of the individual member state and maintain development and stability to whole gulf region.

The adoption of Look West policy in 2005 was launched to reinforce relationship in various dimension like energy security, maritime security and political security. But after the terrorist attacks in the US on September 2001 political relations among gulf states were deteriorated and unstable.⁵ In such situation, according to some bureaucrats and political analysts recognized strong and comprehensive political ties with ASEAN under Look-East policy as compared to Look-West policy. However, Indian bureaucrats and diplomats have been tried many efforts to came closer with GCC countries on strategic partnership, perhaps partially achieved goal because of three members joined under the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) in 2008. Later, member become four such as Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE. These countries are members of both IONS and GCC. Moreover, IONS is not an alliance group, it is a voluntary forum to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

After that in 2012, Congress government enlarged its naval participations and interactions with gulf region through visit to ports in the Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Qatar.²¹ Over the years, when Modi leadership began to be recognized the development of maritime ties in qualitative manner such paradigm shifts in foreign policy. After the initiative of SAGAR vision which means “Security and Growth for all the region” in the IOR, Delhi-Muscat maritime logistic agreement signed in March 2018. For the lynchpin of the Indian Ocean and the gulf, Indian maritime forces got access to Duqum sea port, afterwards navy deployed maritime surveillance aircraft to patrol the Gulf of Aden. Similarly, UAE and Saudi Arabia were also interested to participate in regular army training in past recent years. Indeed, India- UAE signed comprehensive strategic partnership for enhanced defensive cooperation.

Furthermore, PM Modi 2.0 government Riyadh signed maritime cooperation to secure and stable the Indian Ocean and the gulf region.²² In the recent past year 2024, India-GCC first joint ministerial meeting held for strategic dialogue to reinvigorate commitment to secure and stable the gulf region, Arabian sea and IOR.

From the perspective of India concerns about Chinese growing naval presence in the gulf and red sea, therefore, PM Modi government indispensable to compete face such entangle situation. Here, Indian government SAGAR vision flocked all the littoral states of Indian Ocean Region within one frame. This initiative rapidly boosts the bilateral relations trust worth, mutual respect and inter-dependent in various vital interest like oil and gas security, protection from piracy, terror attacks, humanitarian aid during natural disaster and non-traditional threats. Chinese naval presence mostly acts to secure trade, investments and projects. Although China has been eventually to expand its muscle power in the IOR, which gives indication to capable to protects its own citizens and gulf countries from piracy activities and terrorism. During the political disruption and civil war happened in Libya and Yemen Chinese naval troops were successfully rescued its people in 2011 and 2015.⁵

However, China still not so strong to provide maritime security for gulf countries due to its geographical location difficult to reach Gulf of Aden, Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea in limited frame. Moreover, Beijing has been emphasized on trade relations, recently Belt and Road Initiative projects under the President Xi Jinping build closed friendly partnership with UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia.²³ Afterwards, Chinese navy established a military base in Djibouti in 2016. Such fast pace of dragon involvement gives hard competitions and challenges against New Delhi, thereby, latter state must also to accept these challenging through increase presence in the fields of trade growth, science and technology and to ensure gulf states that India as maritime security provider and first respondent in all kinds of situation.²¹

The obstacle and challenge for New Delhi is neighbor country Islamabad, who had been closed relationship and friendship since the era of oil born in 1970s. The main issue of Pakistan has been projecting Kashmir as an international subject, raised this issue at different world forum generally and particularly with Muslim-Arab world. On the other side, India always urged “Kashmir as an integral part but failed to be convinced OIC countries. The majority Muslim countries favored Pakistan. Even, during the period of oil trading Islamabad was the favorable consumer market actor for Muslim countries as compared to New Delhi.

Due to this, Pakistani military personnel provided training exercises, deployment of weapons practices and naval patrolling to the Saudi Arabia and gulf countries. Afterwards, the policies, programs and objectives has changed after 9/11, gulf countries shifted towards India for strategic cooperation and maritime security in the Arabian sea. In the present situation, Persian-Gulf countries not been to interest in Kashmir issue since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Moreover, bilateral cooperative relations between India-GCC much better now in all the domains like agriculture, space, science and technology, environment, energy and oil, food security, education and maritime engagements.

The other major problem is gulf countries have cold relations with Iran that influential emerging power over gulf region. Furthermore, Iran-India bilateral relations is as important as GCC countries due to its geographical location provides to links with Central Asia. Hence India requires diplomatically arranged mechanism to balanced relations between both. India-Iran relations worked at economic and security level. Tehran provided naval base called Chabahar port that beneficial to counter-balance China and trade connectivity with Central Asia.^24-27 If India inclined more towards gulf countries opposing agenda against Iran, then, Tehran likely to be shift to China in future. In such kind of exacerbate situation, Indian foreign policymakers and bureaucrats largely to maintain balance diplomatic ties with gulf countries and Iran.^5,28–30

Nevertheless, India always takes its own stand independently while taking decision in foreign nuclear weapons for testing by Iran that India was condemned strongly because this was against the SAGAR visionary policy to stable, secure, inclusive and open IOR without any non- traditional threat.

As this article has argued the India-gulf countries bilateral relations has been improved over the period. India energy requirement fulfills mostly through this region. Both the Indian Ocean and the gulf region have been historical linkages since Indus valley civilizational period. In the present context, India maintains substantial presence in both ways of economic and political so that inter-dependent synergize relation makes this region secure and stable. To addition this, New Delhi must also be careful to protect its national interest likes welfare of the Indian migrant workers, trade and investment in two ways and balanced approach regard Iran-gulf countries conflict. Therefore, New Delhi must be recognized its potential to expand its strategic naval strength to counter-balance China in this region and simultaneously increase political relation which is necessary due to the economic relation exist with having security is indispensable. To sum up, Gulf states look India as a bridging power to better align with formidable, mutual benefit and cooperative in all manner.

None.

The authors declares that there are no conflicts of interest.

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