Journalism of Courage
Weeks after the UAE backed India on revoking special status to Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday urged the NRI business community based in the UAE to invest in India, particularly in J & K and Ladakh. The NRI business community demonstrated their enthusiasm in this regard, according to MEA’s official spokesperson.
As Modi met the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday, the Crown Prince told him, “I am so grateful that my brother is coming to his second home.”
Ahead of the meeting, Modi said that as far as Article 370 is concerned, the internal steps were taken in a “completely democratic, open, transparent and constitutional manner”. “I appreciate the understanding the UAE and its leadership have shown for our steps and our reasons for taking them,” he told The Khaleej Times.
Describing his bilateral meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed — known as MBZ and considered one of the most powerful leaders in the Gulf — as an “excellent meeting” and said that they “spoke about multiple subjects, including ways to improve trade and people-to-people relations between India and UAE”. “His personal commitment to strong bilateral relations is very strong,” Modi tweeted.
Modi was given the ”Order of Zayed”, the highest civilian decoration conferred by the UAE government. He also launched RuPay card to expand the network of cashless transactions abroad, and bought sweets using the card.
The UAE’s support to India’s move to revoke the special status granted to Jammu and Kashmir has been a major diplomatic success for the Modi government, as the UAE is one of the major members of the OIC grouping.
The UAE had viewed this latest decision related to the state of Jammu and Kashmir as an “internal matter” as stipulated by the Indian Constitution. Sources pointed out the the relationship with the UAE has been of a major transformation over the last five years.
From UAE’s invitation to India for the OIC summit early this year to their latest backing on the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, Modi’s visit reflects a great deal of strategic convergence.
Modi, ahead of the visit, told The Khaleej Times, “India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for over four decades. Both India and the UAE have a common interest in ensuring that the anti-humanity forces that shelter or promote terrorism in any way are compelled to give up their destructive policies. The UAE has shown full understanding of the strong steps we have taken against terrorism. We have exemplary cooperation to ensure mutual security.”
“As far as Article 370 is concerned, our internal steps were taken in a completely democratic, open, transparent and constitutional manner. They were designed to end the isolation that had kept Jammu-Kashmir underdeveloped to serve the vested interests of a few. This isolation also allowed some of the youth to be misguided, get radicalised and take to violence and terrorism. We cannot afford to let these tendencies get any foothold in our harmonious society and distract us from the primary tasks of growth and development of the entire country. I appreciate the understanding the UAE and its leadership have shown for our steps and our reasons for taking them.”
Sources said that there is a significant convergence of views on strategic issues including both the political and the security dimension. The two countries have a shared stance against radicalisation and violent extremism and this has led to exceptional cooperation on the security side. “The political dimension was manifest in the invitation extended to India earlier this year to address the OIC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting as Guest of Honour despite the tantrums of our neighbour. This is a rapidly growing relationship and these are just a few of the manifestations,” a senior Indian official said.
