Diplomatic Hopes and Violent Blows
The government will ultimately take its call regarding a response, which is a strong deterrent, to Pakistan for the deadly Pahalgam terror attack. The support from Middle East countries, which have strengthened their relations with India in recent years, is a significant development and is an indicator of the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
Ahead of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India’s ties with the Gulf nation as one of “limitless potential”, calling the relationship a “pillar of stability in a world full of uncertainties.”
However, the Prime Minister had to cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and return to India on April 23, 2025 — due to the barbaric Pakistan-sponsored terror attack — in Pahalgam, Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which targeted 26 tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF) — a proxy of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)–– claimed responsibility for this terror attack, though later on, it has denied the same.
Days before the terrorist attack, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, known for his vituperative statements vis-à-vis India, had made a speech with a clear communal dimension harking back to the two-nation theory and differences between Hindus and Muslims. “You have to narrate Pakistan’s story to your children so that they don’t forget it when our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life,” said Munir.
This attack, which came days after the Pakistan army chief’s dog whistle, has understandably been linked to his speech, especially given the nature of the attack, where Hindu tourists were singled out. AIMIM Chief and Hyderabad Lok Sabha MP, Asaduddin Owaisi, while commenting on the act of segregating the Hindu community during the Pahalgam attack, said: “Be it ISI or ISIS or the deep state establishment of Pakistan, they want communal riots between Hindus and Muslims. The reason why our Hindu brothers were killed was that they wanted to tell us that non-Muslims cannot come to Kashmir”.
The Pakistan government, as on earlier occasions, has denied any role in this attack.
Stance of Gulf countries
The global community has unequivocally condemned the attack. Amongst the countries that have strongly condemned the attack were the Gulf countries – Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry, in a statement, said, ‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s condemnation in the strongest terms of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in many deaths and injuries’.
The UAE, while expressing sympathy with the victims of the terror attack and their families in a statement said, ‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) affirmed that the UAE expresses its strong condemnation of these criminal acts, and its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of international law…’
Along with the UAE and Saudi Arabia, Iran has also strongly condemned the attack.
Like on earlier occasions, all the above nations have volunteered to reduce tensions between India and Pakistan. However, given the current atmosphere and the strong public anger in India against Pakistan, especially in light of some tough decisions taken by the Indian government, including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), it is unlikely that the current level of tensions will ease anytime soon. As mentioned earlier, the fact that innocent tourists have been targeted has raised tempers in India.
Role of Saudi Arabia and UAE in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan
Saudi Arabia and the UAE, along with the US, had intervened when tensions between the two countries had escalated in 2019. In 2021, the UAE played an important role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan across the Line of Control (LOC). Both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which have close ties to Pakistan, have in recent years urged the latter to change its policy vis-à-vis India and focus on strengthening economic links. It would be pertinent to point out that the UAE and Saudi Arabia have also evinced interest in investing in Kashmir. UAE’s Emaar group has already begun operations in Kashmir.
In a message on X, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, while commenting on his conversation with his Saudi counterpart, said: ‘Had a telecon with Foreign Minister @FaisalbinFarhan of Saudi Arabia. Discussed the Pahalgam terrorist attack and its cross-border linkages.’
India’s relations with Iran
India’s ties with Iran have also improved significantly in recent years. India has invested in the Chabahar Port (Iran), which has been dubbed India’s link to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and beyond. In 2024, India signed a 10-year agreement for the management of Shahid Behesti Terminal of the Chabahar Project. Iran’s ties with Pakistan have also been strained in recent times. In conclusion, the government will ultimately take its own call regarding a response, which is a strong deterrent, to Pakistan for the deadly April 22 terror attack. The support from Middle East countries, which have strengthened their relations with India in recent years, is a significant development and is an indicator of the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
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About the author
Tridivesh Singh Maini is a New Delhi-based Policy Analyst. He is faculty member of OP Jindal Global University, Sonepat, Haryana.
