Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'India’s policy to have cordial relations with West Asia is great' that was published in Newsband

India’s policy to have cordial relations with West Asia is great

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Iran makes one certain that the Centre is keen on taking ties with this “extended neighbour” to a higher level.  Over the last few months, Iran hosted several high-profile visitors, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi. Three senior Ministers of the Modi government, including External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, have travelled to Tehran in the past few months

Mr. Modi’s trip is expected to bridge the trust deficit in bilateral cooperation and boost energy and trade ties while expediting India’s connectivity plans. Strong ties with Iran are vital for India. The key factor is energy. Also globally, New Delhi and Tehran are on the same page in their opposition towards groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Iran also seems keen on pursuing stronger ties with India. The Iran visit comes after his trips to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia and ahead of visits to Qatar and Israel. Israel remains one of India’s top defence and technology suppliers.

With increase in India’s population, India’s energy demand will be more and more in future and Modi government’s steps to engage with Middle East is a good decisions if you view from energy angle. People of Iran are very open minded and follow a modern form of their religion similar to Hindus in India.

Modi has to do a balancing act to maintain the cordial relations with West Asian countries, specially, Saudi Arabia and Iran. Modi's visit to Iran has given a unique opportunity for India to enhance its economic and strategic interests in West Asia.

Actually India's foreign policy is gaining balance during last 15 years. Earlier it was based on illogical principles at the cost of India's interests. Now India's interests and requirements are in the forefront of foreign policy, as it should be.

Since the US relations with Iran improved, the Saudis have also opened up and India is trying to establish effective bondage with Iran. India believes in policy of acting against Terror and against hegemony, and is now moving closer to USA. It is high time Indian leadership becomes bold and independent, and stopped forming a different AXIS with Iran, Russia, and other interested nations. Today the International political situation is such that we could be thrown out of the development circuit, if not aligned with the West. Our gain will be loss to the Chinese, who are trying to forge ahead.

India is in a unique position not only to improve relations with Iran but also improve relations between Iran and Israel. Both India and Iran desperately need the Israel technology to grow food arid areas. If Modi can pull it off, then it would be a diplomatic coup.