India's Response to the Gulf Crisis: Implications for Indian Foreign Policy

Abstract

In economic and political terms, the South Asian countries were hardest hit by the Gulf crisis because of their dependence on the Middle East for oil and trade as well as the nature of their relations with the Gulf countries. Aside from bigger import bills for oil, the already weak economies of South Asian countries had to face the loss of remittances by nationals working in the Middle East, the cost of repatriating these nationals, and disruptions to export markets. In religious terms, the region is home to more than 340 million Muslims (India alone has more than 100 million), the largest concentration of Muslims anywhere in the world. This article examines the response of India, the largest South Asian state, to the Gulf crisis and other related issues such as India's perceptions of the United Nations' role, the New World Order, and collective security as reflected in the ongoing foreign policy debate in the country.