India’s Growing Influence in the Gulf States: Political, Strategic and Economic Risks for Pakistan

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.