178 i n t e r n a t i o n a l f a c t o r sDinesh Singh declared that “as far as PLO is concerned there was no ques-
tion of the recognition; it was allowed to make a statement along with other
liberation movements from colonial territories.”^64 India was reacting cau-
tiously to PLO’s entry into the NAM.
The sixth Arab summit in November 1973 at Algiers was a milestone
in the history of the PLO. Coming within weeks after the Arab “victory”
in the October war, the summit formally declared the PLO to be “the sole
representative of the Palestinian people.”^65 This enhanced the status of
the PLO, which was under a cloud following a spate of hijackings in the
early 1970s. This eventually compelled even King Hussein of Jordan to
accept the reality on the ground. The Arab consensus vis-à- vis the Pales-
tinian leadership enabled the United Nations to recognize the PLO and
grant it an “observer” status in the General Assembly. On November 13,
1974, PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat made his famous “gun and the olive
branch” speech.
Around the same time, India formally acknowledged that it was main-
taining contacts with the PLO through various diplomatic channels.^66 In
December 1974, roughly thirty parliamentarians demanded that India
grant diplomatic status to the PLO, to coincide with the tenth anniversary
of the “Palestine Revolution.”^67 These eff orts culminated on January 10,
1975, when India’s ambassador in Beirut, S. K. Singh, signed the neces-
sary offi cial documents with Arafat. Through this agreement, India rec-
ognized the PLO and permitted an in de pen dent offi ce in New Delhi.^68
According to Arafat, the Indian decision should have come earlier. Speak-
ing to the state- run All- India Radio soon after recognition, he disclosed
that “at the last interview between me and her Excellency Gandhi, in
Algiers, during the nonaligned countries conference, I remember what
she had promised me, and now we can say that what she promised me,
has been fulfi lled.”^69 If he is correct, India was contemplating recognition
even before a similar move by the Arab League.
Since its recognition, India has been consistently championing the
participation of the PLO in the Middle East peace pro cess as an equal part-
ner.^70 In March 1980, India granted full diplomatic recognition to the PLO
by upgrading its offi ce to that of an embassy endowed with all diplomatic
immunities and privileges.^71 This was one of the fi rst foreign- policy initia-
tives undertaken by Indira Gandhi upon returning to power in January.
Gradually, the India- PLO ties were strengthened through increased con-
tacts, meetings, and exchanges. In April 1981, an Indian delegation headed
by Lok Sabha Speaker Balram Jakhar attended the fi fteenth session of