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indicates the Saudi willingness to treat India as a special friend. Likewise,
the Saudi assistance was critical for the evacuation of the Indian citizens
from the war-ravaged Yemen.
If India were to continue the positive trajectory, it would have to view
some of the traditional components of the Indo-Saudi relations as assets
and game changer. If Islam is central to Saudi social identity and political
existence, it is also the continuous linkage between India and Arabia. The
rivalry with Pakistan and Cold War worldviews resulted in India ignoring
or not utilizing Islam as the most enduring component of Indo-Saudi rela-
tions. Some of the internal reforms initiated by Crown Prince Mohammed
bin-Salman are modernization efforts aimed at transforming the conserva-
tive society and its adherence to a broader interpretation of the faith.
While visualizing non-Islamic places of worship is premature and unrealis-
tic, tolerance and acceptance of the other have become integral parts
of Saudi engagements, especially with India. Some of the recent measures
in breaking down and lowering of gender discriminations are aimed at
establishing a more inclusive Saudi society.
At the same time, none should underestimate the conservative backlash
against reforms, especially when the clergy is the primary losers of the
reform measures. As Iran has periodically reminded, the clerics live in a
different time zone and are slow to change.
Thus, besides enhancing the bilateral relations, the focus on the Islamic
dimension of the ties would yield two other gains. It could contribute to
and consolidate the reformist measures in the Kingdom and in the process
to hasten the pace of change that the young prince seeks to accomplish.
This does not imply positive statements or endorsement of various mea-
sures but demand for a more active Indian engagement with the Kingdom
and the different segment of the population. In practical terms, this means
visits not being confined to ministries of foreign affairs, finance, petro-
leum or defence but would include fields such as education, culture, skill
development, women empowerment, youth, sports and so on. A more
holistic approach would not only enhance the bilateral relations but also
provide greater legitimacy and support for the reformist segment of the
Saudi society.
Above all, an increased role for Islam would also enable India to flag
some of its serious but unspoken concerns over the Saudi influence in the
radicalization of segments of the Indian Muslim population. The Gulf
returnees are often blamed for the rise of conservatism in states like Kerala
P. R. KUMARASWAMY AND MD. M. QUAMAR