West Asia

About Centre

The West Asia Centre seeks to cover issues, themes and countries of the region which are undergoing rapid political transformation impacting the political and security situation of the region and beyond. Popular protests demanding political and economic reforms and the subsequent fall of some long ruling authoritarian rulers and the rise of Islamists to power have significantly changed the region’s political landscape. GCC-Iran rivalry, Shia-Sunni sectarian conflict, external intervention in the region, and the rise of religious radicalism have further aggravated the situation. The Centre is closely following the unfolding internal political developments in individual countries as well as the regional political scenario.

The historical shifts in the region and domestic political developments will have a significant impact on India’s external environment. With huge stakes in the region such as energy, trade and safety of Indian citizens in the region, it has become important for India to carefully watch developments taking place in its ‘extended neighbourhood.’ These and other related issues are being focused upon by the scholars at the Centre. The Centre continues to hold regular bilateral dialogues with some leading think tanks in West Asia thus facilitating exchange of ideas and perspectives.

Current projects being pursued in the Centre are:

Linking South and Central and West Asia: Transportation and Energy Cooperation
Political transformations in the Arab world and implications for India
Regional organisation in Gulf: The Gulf Cooperation Council
India-Arab relations and partnership
Iran’s domestic and foreign policies
India’s Engagement with Iran: Prospects and challenges.

Whither the Indo-US Defence Partnership

India appears to be failing to consider the geopolitical and foreign policy fallouts from signing the so-called foundational military pacts with the United States.

P. Stobdan
June 25, 2018
Comment

Jordan is the Pivot to Modi’s approach to Israeli-Palestinian conflict

An unstable Jordan will undermine India’s newly found nuanced and balanced approach towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and push it back to the insipid, ineffective and routine of yester years.

P. R. Kumaraswamy
June 15, 2018
Comment

Iraq Elections-May 2018: Prospects and Possibilities

In the present form, Prime Minister Abadi looks set to emerge as the largest block but the chances of his coalition getting the required majority are slim.

Rajeev Agarwal
May 08, 2018
Comment

India-Jordan Relations: An Ascendant Partnership

King Abdullah II’s forthcoming visit to India represents an opportunity to catapult the relationship to the next higher level in strategic, security, political, energy, trade, investment and economic cooperation.

Ashok Sajjanhar
February 26, 2018
Comment

India and Iran Resolve to Focus on Connectivity and Economic Cooperation

Notwithstanding differences on some issues, chiefly, Afghanistan and India’s UNSC aspirations, India and Iran have decided to focus their energies on areas of concurrence such as connectivity and economic cooperation.

Ashok Sajjanhar
February 20, 2018
Comment

Jordan is more than a transit point

Indian assistance to the Palestinians could not be routed through Israel without political controversy both at home and abroad, and India cannot help the Palestinians constructively without coordinating with Jordan.

P. R. Kumaraswamy
February 12, 2018
Comment

Turkey’s Afrin Offensive can pitch Ankara against both Washington and Moscow

Turkey's resolve to dislodge the Democratic Union Party (PYD) from Afrin, a Kurdish enclave in northern Syria adjacent to the Turkish border, will be seriously tested by the US and Russian opposition to military action against the Kurds.

Md. Muddassir Quamar
January 22, 2018
Comment

Is it Jerusalem or Jerusalems?

Jerusalem is a theological, geographical, historical, archaeological, political and emotional issue with contested claims and overlapping legacies.

P. R. Kumaraswamy
December 15, 2017
Issue Brief

The Saudi Aramco IPO and Crown Prince Salman’s Ambitions

Crown Prince Salman has been using oil as a tool to further his political ambitions both domestically and internationally, and Saudi Aramco acts as a nucleus around which his ambitions revolve.

Chithra Purushothaman
November 16, 2017
Comment

Fatah – Hamas Reconciliation and Prospects for the Elusive Palestinian Unity

On October 12, 2017, Fatah and Hamas, the two dominant factions in Palestinian politics, signed a reconciliation agreement in Cairo to end their decade-long conflict.