209approach. The Ahl-e-Hadith and Jamat-e-Islami movements in India,
Sansui movement in North Africa, Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Shia
revivalist movement in Iran have also contributed to radical thoughts
among Muslim societies.
Thus, the mutual anger and resultant regional tension between the two
Islamic neighbours have become a headache for India. It has strategic
interests in both these countries. In addition to energy security, the wel-
fare of the Indian expatriates, trade and investment considerations, India
needs Saudi cooperation in fighting terrorism and radicalism. At the same
time, it has strategic interests in maintaining close ties with Tehran because
it sees the Islamic republic critical to reaching out to Afghanistan and
Central Asia. If Saudi Arabia is helpful in limiting the Pakistani factor,
India needs Iran to circumvent Pakistan vis-à-vis Afghanistan.
Moreover, there is also a domestic consideration. While much of the
170-million-strong Muslim population are adherents of Sunni Islam,
India also has a sizeable Shia population. According to a PEW estimate,
there are about 20–25 million Shia Muslims in India and this is third only
to the Shias of Iran (PEW Research Center 2009 ). During the nuclear
controversy leaders flagged the Shia component and argued that India
would not be able to be indifferent towards this internal dimension (Khare
2005 ). Any mishandling of the Saudi-Iranian tension and sectarian divide
in the Middle East could spiral into a domestic issue within India.
ConClUSion
Besides Pakistan, there are other factors which weigh heavily upon the
Indo-Saudi relations. Though the Indo-US interests convergence has
enhanced, the diminishing American interests and influence in the Gulf is
bad new for India, especially when it seeks closer and strategic ties with
Riyadh. Piggy bagging on the American presence would have been easier
than trekking a lonely journey. This is all the more relevant when Iran is
opposed to the entry of extra-regional powers into Gulf politics. The
growing Chinese economic forays and its emergence as a major player in
various mega projects in the region pose a serious challenge to India’s
desire to expand its footprints. The introduction of Chinese workforce,
though small at present, would be a challenge to the Indian expatriate
community in the long run. Already they are facing difficulties in the wake
of the Arabization of the workforce and the entry of Arab women in the
labour market. The daunting challenge to India would come from the
INTERNATIONAL FACTORS