Diplomatist Magazine Oman 2018 - Special Report | Page 15

then, that the fi rst contact between these two
countries occurred through the sea.
Political and Strategic Ties
India and Oman share strong political ties
which have survived the test of time. When
Sultan Qaboos ibn Saeed was trying to bring
stability to Oman after the Marxist inspired
rebellion engulfed the Dhofar region, many
countries withdrew from Oman. India, however,
still maintained its presence in the country.
When Oman emerged as an independent nation
state, India supported the Sultan on most
issues at a time when many Arab states voted
against Oman. The then Indian External Affairs
Minister Swaran Singh had welcomed Oman’s
entry into the United Nations. This gesture was
soon reciprocated by Oman as it abstained from
the debate and subsequent vote on the 1971
Bangladesh confl ict at the UN. At the time, it
was the only Muslim country to not support
Pakistan whole heartedly.
In more recent times, the political
engagement between the two countries has
increasingly taken on a more strategic shape.
Counter terrorism is an issue of common
concern between India and Oman. Since 1994,
when a plot to overthrow Sulatna Qaboos by the
Muslim Brotherhood was uncovered, Oman has
strongly condemned terrorism and radicalism
in all its forms. India, given its diffi cult history
with terrorism, also condemns it in the strongest
terms.
India and Oman
have also regularly
engaged in joint
military, army and
navy exercises.
Bilateral trade and
investment has been
another important
area of collaboration
between the two
countries which
has seen major
developments in the
last few years.
Dr. Manmohan Singh with the Sultan of Oman, Mr. Qaboos Bin Said
Al-Said in Muscat on November 9, 2008.
Recent past
A number of high level visits have taken
place between India and Oman in the last few
decades. Indian Prime Ministers including Shri
Rajiv Gandhi (1985), Shri P. V. Narasimha Rao
(1993), Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee (1998), Dr.
Manmohan Singh (2008) and Narendra Modi
(2018) have all visited Oman while in offi ce.
Indian President Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma
also visited Oman in 1996, during which Oman
conferred its highest civilian award on him as
a friendly gesture. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos
bin Said al Said visited India in 1997. Both
countries are signatories to numerous MoUs
dealing with hydrocarbon, space technology,
fi sheries, agriculture, civil aviation, avoidance
of double taxation, security, defence and energy.
India and Oman have also regularly engaged
in joint military, army and navy exercises.
Bilateral trade and investment has been another
important area of collaboration between the two
countries which has seen major developments
in the last few years. In 2010, the India-Oman
Joint Investment Fund cap was increased from
$100 Million to $1.5 billion.
India and Oman are both part of the Indian
Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Oman is also
a member of the International North–South
Transport Corridor (INSTC), which is an Indian
initiative to gain access to Afghanistan and
Central Asia.
On the economic side of things, India has
the potential to play an important role in the
Prime Minister meets Sayyid Asa’ad bin Tariq Al Said, Deputy Prime
Minister for International Relations and Cooperation Affairs of Oman in
Muscat (February 12, 2018)
2018 • INDIA-OMAN • 15