A key pact was signed between India and Oman on Wednesday which allowed India’s navy vessels to use the Duqm port which is located in a strategically important position. India has secured its access to strategically located Duqm port and dry dock in order to expand its reach in the Indian Ocean region. The pact was signed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Oman and it will allow Indian military to use the facilities at Duqm port and it will give India a foothold in Oman and its extended neighborhood. Some experts say that the agreement is very important as it will provide India an entry point in Eastern Africa and West Asia and this is so important at a time when China has been increasing its foothold in the Indian Ocean region by deploying its strategic assets.
The Duqm airport is situated on the Southeastern coast of Oman which opens into the Indian Ocean and Arabian sea. The port is a strategic location for India because to the north of the Duqm port is the Chabahar port and India is providing help to develop it in order to open a trade route to Central Asia and Afghanistan while bypassing Pakistan. The Chabahar port in Iran is very important for India as Pakistan does not allows India to send goods and commodities to other countries like Afghanistan and Iran. Also, the port will be used by India as it is counter to the Gwadar port which has been developed by China recently.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on a visit to Oman over last two days and the agreement signed between them is considered to be a major takeaway from their meetings. In the meeting, an annexure to the MoU on Military Cooperation was signed between Narendra Modi and Sultan of Oman Sayyid Sayyid Qaboos bin Said Al Said. The Duqm port has been a center of activity for Indian military as only in last September, India had deployed an attack submarine to the port. The Indian military deployed a Shishumar class submarine along with two P-81 long-range marine aircraft and naval ship INS Mumbai. India got access to other strategically important Oman port for military use and the naval units were on a month-long deployment with aim of enhancing cooperation and surveillance.
The leaders from both countries noted that the MoU on cooperation and surveillance between Coastguards and maritime security which was signed in May 2016 had provided a firm foundation for further deepening of institutional interactions. In an indirect reference, the need to isolate the sponsors and advocated of terrorism and the pressing need for the International community to take actions against those who are trying to support terrorism and use it as an instrument of state policy was also emphasized.
PM Modi admired Oman’s effort of welcoming Indian companies to invest in various sectors of Special Economic Zones and diversify the economy of the country. Apart from the signed agreement, the leaders also talked about food security, education and renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
