Saudi Arabia Uses India to Balance Pakistan
By Tom Wright
India Realtime
The Wall Street Journal
October 23, 2012
[Caption] Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony, right,
with Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister of Defence Khalid Bin
Sultan, left, in Riyadh, February 14.
Ministry of Defence/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
More evidence is emerging that Saudi Arabia is deepening
its cooperation with India in cracking down on terrorism
suspects, an important trend that has implications for
Pakistan’s bilateral relationship with Riyadh.
Pakistan is Saudi Arabia’s traditional ally in South
Asia. Both are Islamic countries with majority Sunni
populations. Saudi money has fueled the construction of
hard-line religious schools in Pakistan that have helped
foster Islamist militancy.
But Saudi Arabia also has been moving closer to India,
Pakistan’s nemesis in the region.
The latest sign came this week as Indian authorities
confirmed Saudi Arabia had extradited Fasih Mehmood, an
alleged member of Indian Mujahideen, a local militant
outfit.
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Om Shanti