• ISBN13: 9789372266917
• Binding: Hardcover
• Subject: Politics and Current Affairs
• Publisher: Atlantic Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd
• Publisher Imprint: Atlantic
• Publication Date: December 18, 2025
• Pages: 250
• Original Price: INR 795.0
• Language: English
• Edition: N/A
• Item Weight: 440 grams
• BISAC Subject(s): Comparative Politics, International Relations / General, and Security (National & International)

India-Pakistan Rivalry in the Middle East: A Comparative Analysis offers a rare and timely study of how South Asia's fiercest rivals compete for influence in a region undergoing profound change. Once shaped largely by religious identity, Middle Eastern states are increasingly guided by economic interests in choosing partners. This shift has elevated India's standing-driven by its economic strength and recent diplomatic outreach-while Pakistan's influence has declined amid economic weakness. Moving beyond the familiar lens of Kashmir, the book explores under-researched dimensions of the rivalry, spanning history, energy, diaspora, trade, defense, and diplomacy. It is an indispensable resource for students, researchers, policymakers, foreign policy professionals, and readers interested in South Asian and Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Dr. Abbas Ahmad Rather, with a BA, MA, and PhD in Political Science along with NET and SET qualifications, specializes in international relations and foreign policy, particularly India's engagement with the Middle East (West Asia) during BJP's tenure. He has written widely on India-Middle East relations in academic forums and publications, offering fresh and timely perspectives on evolving geopolitics. He teaches Political Science at undergraduate colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, where he blends research with pedagogy, inspiring students, researchers, and general readers alike. His debut book, India-Pakistan Rivalry in the Middle East: A Comparative Analysis, underscores his dedication to advancing informed dialogue on South Asian and Middle Eastern affairs.

• Acknowledgments............................................................................................ vii
• Preface............................................................................................................. ix

Chapter 1: Introduction......................................................................................1

• India-Pakistan Relations: A Brief Overview......................................................... 1
• The Middle East as a Strategic Region .................................................................4
• Colonial Legacies and their Impact .....................................................................8
• Pakistan’s Early Diplomatic Ties with the
• Middle East .......................................................................................................11
• India’s Initial Engagements in the Region........................................................... 14
• The Role of Religion and Identity in Foreign
• Policy................................................................................................................ 17
• Major Conflicts and their Influence on Middle Eastern Alliances......................... 22
• Shifting Geopolitical Interests over the Decades................................................. 26

Chapter 2: Pakistan’s Deep-Rooted Ties with

• the Middle East .................................................................................................31
• Pakistan’s Religious Diplomacy and the Islamic Identity Factor......................... 31
• Saudi Arabia-Pakistan Relations: Strategic and Economic Ties ..........................35
• The Pakistan-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
• Nexus............................................................................................................... 38
• iv Contents
• Role of Pakistan’s Military in Middle Eastern Security......................................... 42
• Economic Dependence on Gulf Remittances...................................................... 46
• Pakistan’s Position on Palestine and Arab
• Solidarity ..........................................................................................................51
• Pakistan-Turkey Relations and their Impact on
• the Middle East .................................................................................................54

Chapter 3: India’s Expanding Role in the

• Middle East....................................................................................................... 61
• India’s Diplomatic Outreach: Strengthening
• Bilateral Relations............................................................................................ 61
• Economic Engagements: Trade and Investment Growth..................................... 65
• India’s Energy Dependence and Oil Diplomacy ..................................................67
• Security Cooperation and Counterterrorism Partnerships.................................. 69
• Soft Power Influence: Bollywood, Yoga, and
• Cultural Ties..................................................................................................... 72
• Indian Diaspora in the Middle East: A Strategic
• Asset ................................................................................................................75
• Modi’s Diplomatic Visits to the Middle East....................................................... 79
• India’s Stance on Regional Conflicts
• (Palestine-Israel, Iran-Saudi Rivalry) .................................................................82
• Key Indian Foreign Policy Initiatives in the
• Middle East .......................................................................................................85

Chapter 4: Economic Dimensions of the

• Rivalry ...............................................................................................................93
• India-Pakistan Trade with Middle Eastern
• Nations .............................................................................................................93
• The Role of Gulf Remittances in Pakistan’s
• Economy ...........................................................................................................96
• India’s Energy Security and Middle Eastern
• Oil Imports ......................................................................................................101
• Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Trends from
• the Middle East to India and Pakistan............................................................... 104
• The Impact of Free Trade Agreements (FTAS)
• and Economic Diplomacy ................................................................................109
• Technology and Innovation Cooperation
• between India and the Middle East................................................................... 113
• Defense and Arms Trade with Middle Eastern Countries ....................................118
• The Role of China’s Belt and Road Initiative
• (BRI) in the Economic Rivalry ............................................................................123

Chapter 5: Security and Strategic Alliances ........................................................131

• Pakistan’s Military Partnerships with Gulf States ...............................................131
• India’s Defense Ties With Israel and the UAE .....................................................134
• Counterterrorism Cooperation: India, Pakistan,
• and the Middle East ..........................................................................................137
• The Role of the US in Shaping India-Pakistan
• Middle East Strategies ......................................................................................141
• Pakistan’s Support for Taliban and its Middle
• Eastern Implications ........................................................................................145
• India’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and its Middle
• Eastern Relevance ............................................................................................149
• Cybersecurity And Intelligence Sharing in the
• Middle East ......................................................................................................152
• The Role of Non-State Actors and Proxy
• Conflicts ..........................................................................................................156

Chapter 6: Political and Diplomatic

• Engagements ...................................................................................................167
• India’s Look West Policy and its Evolution ........................................................167
• Pakistan’s Membership in the Organization of
• Islamic Cooperation (OIC) ...............................................................................172
• The Role of Multilateral Institutions in
• India-Pakistan Middle East Diplomacy ............................................................176
• India’s Relations with Iran and their Impact
• on Pakistan ....................................................................................................181
• The Kashmir Issue and its Resonance in Middle Eastern Politics .....................185
• India’s Engagement with the Arab League and
• the GCC ..........................................................................................................189
• The Impact of Middle Eastern Political Crises
• on India and Pakistan ....................................................................................193
• India and Pakistan’s Responses to the Abraham Accords ...............................197

Chapter 7: Conclusion ....................................................................................205

• The Evolving Geopolitical Landscape in the
• Middle East ...................................................................................................205
• The Impact of Normalization of Arab-Israel
• Relations on India and Pakistan ....................................................................207
• Energy Transition and its Effect on India-
• Pakistan Middle East Engagements ...............................................................208
• The Role of China, Russia, and the US in
• Shaping the Rivalry .......................................................................................209
• The Future of Defense and Security Ties with
• the Middle East .............................................................................................211
• Bibliography .................................................................................................213
• Index ............................................................................................................229