Diplomatist Magazine Oman 2018 - Special Report | Page 11

PM Modi visits Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat
during his State visit to Oman on 11-12 February 2018
OMAN: INDIA’S NATURAL
ALLY IN AN UNSTABLE WORLD
By Dr. Syed Mohammad Raghib*
H
istorically, India and Oman have
had deep social, economic and trade
relations for many centuries, beginning
when Arab sailors and traders fi rst travelled the
seas and used Indian ports all those centuries
ago. Both countries have been using each
other’s ports (Surat, Calicut, Kochi, Mumbai,
Mangalore, Kandla, and Goa in India, and
Salalah, Sohar Khasab, Dqum, Qalhaat
and Sultan Qaboos in Oman) for trade and
commerce purposes. These ports were used to
sell Arab goods in India as well as the Chinese
market through the Strait of Malacca, Bay of
Bengal and Sumatra islands. Among these
ports, Calicut and Salalah were the oldest trade
centres in use since ancient times. The ‘Jewel
of Muscat’ is famous among history books in
India, and people are fond of Omani jewels
even today.
India had been colonised by the British just
as the Portuguese had ruled Oman in the same
fashion for around 140 years (1508-1648). Over
the course of time, India and Oman continued
to be in touch with each other at different
levels, more so through trade. In 1970, the latter
became independent and came to be known as
the Sultanate of Oman.
There is nothing permanent or constant
in the world of diplomacy and international
relations. However, despite the changing
international scenario, India and Oman have
enjoyed strong bilateral relations for decades,
and these have been smoothly moving in
a positive direction. For a while now, both
countries have engaged with each other in a
variety of fi elds like energy, trade, defence,
education, diplomacy and at a cultural level
despite the larger upheaval taking place as a
result of the changing state of affairs in the
world, especially in the Gulf region. India, at all
times, has recognized and appreciated Oman’s
neutral stand on various matters and has come
to identify Muscat as a true friend of New
Delhi. Oman, too, possesses a similar sense of
gratitude towards New Delhi. Oman, known for
its backdoor diplomacy and mediation efforts,
facilitated the secret meeting between Iranian
and American offi cials to discuss the nuclear
issue in the initial days before the JCPOA came
to pass. It has always played a positive role in
2018 • INDIA-OMAN • 11