The Hindu

Monday, Sep 08, 2003

West Asia watching Sharon's visit

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA Sept. 7. As the Israel Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, begins his
high-profile visit to India on Monday, most countries in West Asia are
looking at how best New Delhi balances its growing relationship with Tel
Aviv without sacrificing its core interest with the rest of the region.
Israel, which has faced relative isolation across the globe, sees India as
its strategic anchor in Asia. It also views India as its partner in
combating Islamic extremism.

Not surprisingly, it has not hesitated to empower India militarily. Besides,
Israel has found military exports to India financially rewarding.
Given the commonality of interests, institutional links, especially among
the security and intelligence agencies of Israel and India, now run deep.
Exchange of information on a variety of security-related subjects is now in
full flow.

As India enhances its engagement with Israel, Iran among the countries in
the region will be taking a hard look at how this shapes up.

Israel and the United States have been particularly harsh on Iran. The U.S.
attempts to roll back the Islamic revolution, which removed its protégé, the
Shah of Iran in 1979 is well-known. The Israeli hostility towards Teheran is
also no secret either. Israel sees Iran along with Syria as the main
supporter of the anti-Israeli Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon, on its northern
borders.

Teheran has also been blamed for actively supporting extremist Palestinian
groups that have been battling with the Israeli regime. Pressure from the
U.S. and Israel to stop Iran's suspected nuclear programme has intensified
in recent months and there have been reports suggesting that Israel could be
considering taking military action targeting the Iranian nuclear facility in
Bushehr.

While dealing with Israel, Iran would therefore be carefully watching
whether New Delhi steers clear of the Tel Aviv-Washington agenda that is
hostile towards it. Analysts point out that it might be in India's interests
if it does not adopt a position in global fora that Iran perceives as
undermining its nuclear programme.

India's interests in keeping its relationship with Iran insulated from its
bilateral dealings with Israel are well-known. India, for instance, sees
Iran as a gateway to Afghanistan and the rest of Central Asia. India and
Iran are currently involved in developing the Chah Bahar port as a
commercial gateway to Afghanistan and beyond. India, Iran and Russia are
jointly developing the north-south corridor that can take Indian goods into
Russia and the Europe via the Iranian mainland and the Caspian Sea. Besides,
India is beginning to invest in Iran's energy resources.

In the Arab world, the visit of Mr. Sharon to India is seen as ill-timed.
This is because the Israeli violence under the Sharon Government against the
Palestinians in the last few weeks appears to be peaking. Many Arab
commentators are of the view that India, in deference to Arab sensitivities,
should actively persist and if possible enhance its moral and diplomatic
support for the Palestinian people, irrespective of its developing relations
with Israel.

By progressing on a parallel track with the Palestinians, India might find
itself better positioned to serve the needs of millions of expatriate
workers in the Gulf, who are valuable foreign exchange earners, as well as
its long-term energy security interests.

Copyright © 2003, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the
contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent
of The Hindu