India-Oman ties
Date: 01 February 2022 Tags: India & WorldIssue
Top defence official of Oman, Mohammed Nasser Al Zaabi will be visiting India on an official visit from January 30 to February 4.
Background
As the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Defence of Oman, he is the executive head of the Omani defence establishment.
Details
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Al Zaabi will co-chair the Joint Military Cooperation Committee (JMMC) with Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar of India.
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The JMCC, being the highest form of defense engagement between the two countries, will evaluates and provide guidance to the overall framework of defence exchanges between the two sides.
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Taking place after a period of three years, the JMCC will provide a roadmap for further strengthening defence ties in the coming years.
Defence partnership with Oman
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Being India’s closest partner in the Gulf, Oman has turned out to be an important anchor for India’s defence and strategic interests.
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Indian armed forces conduct regular bilateral exercises and staff talks with their counterparts in Oman, becoming the only country in Gulf with such robust ties.
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Indian Navy gets critical operational support from Oman during its deployment in Arabian Sea to tackle piracy.
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Forces of Oman regularly enroll in training courses in India both at professional as well as higher command level. Indian forces also do the same.
Historical ties with India
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Sultan Qaboos bin Said al Said studied in India and was the student of former President of India Shankar Dayal Sharma.
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He was generous towards the Indian community and India’s requests for help, which was influenced from his student days in India.
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After his death in 2020, India observed national mourning for one day on January 13, 2020 in his honour. He was conferred with Gandhi Peace Prize.
Role of Sultan Qaboos
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India used its ties with the Sultan to sign a strategic agreement for using the strategically-located Duqm port.
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The Sultan was involved in negotiation with Yemeni parties while securing the release of Vatican priest Father Tom Uzhunnalil, who was abducted in Yemen.
Significance of Duqm port
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The Port of Duqm is located in southeastern coast of the country, overlooking the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.
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It is close enough to Chabahar port of Iran and is part of strategic ports developed by India, including Assumption Island in Seychelles and Agalega in Mauritius.
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India has deployed an attack submarine, a naval ship and two P-8I long-range maritime patrol aircraft for military use.
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Indian companies are investing about $1.8 billion in the special economic zone. The Adani Group has signed MoU with Duqm Port Authority.
Indians in Oman
More than 6 lakh Indians reside in Oman. Majority of them are engaged in profession such as doctors, nurses, engineers, lecturers, managers etc.