Abstract:
The paper explores India‘s growing role in the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC), the primary drivers behind its
success in fostering a strong economic and strategic
relationship with Council members, and its implications for
Pakistan. The study observes that Pakistan‘s policy of
neutrality in Yemen‘s conflict, Saudi-Qatar impasse, and
support of Iran‘s nuclear deal may have pushed the GCC
states closer to India over the past few years. It also finds that
unlike their economic relationship, security cooperation
between India and the Gulf region is still limited in scope, but
enhancing gradually. If India‘s political and security
interaction further expands, it could deprive Pakistan of strong
political and economic partners in the region which is New
Delhi‘s ultimate strategic objective.
