Retired Indian Major General Gagan Deep Bakshi has raised alarms regarding a recently formed defense alliance among Turkey, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia, highlighting potential risks for India. He insists that, despite external pressures from Israel and the United States, India should prioritize strengthening its relations with Iran.
The Emerging Threat of a Sunni Coalition
Bakshi characterizes the developing “Sunni NATO” as a serious concern for India. This coalition, which he asserts has been established in Mecca, includes Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. The alliance poses a potential threat not only to India but also changes the dynamics of regional geopolitical stability. “A Sunni NATO comprising Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan has been established in the Middle East, in Mecca, and that is a serious cause for concern,” Bakshi stated in an interview with a New Delhi-based outlet.
Iran as a Strategic Counterbalance
He argues that Shiite Iran can serve as a crucial counterbalance to Pakistan, which, alongside China, remains one of India’s key security challenges. “We need Shi’ite Iran on our side because Pakistan is our primary security headache,” Bakshi emphasized. His assessment suggests that while many nations express concerns over Iran’s capabilities, India faces a grave concern from Pakistan, which he describes as a “fundamentalist, jihadist Islamic state” equipped with approximately 180 nuclear warheads.
Comparative Nuclear Concerns
Bakshi draws a comparison between Israel’s anxieties about Iran’s nuclear ambitions and India’s perception of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal. He asserts that Israel appears more worried about Iran than Pakistan, even though the latter presents a more immediate threat to India’s security landscape. This inconsistency in the international community’s concerns has sparked Bakshi’s call for a reassessment of alliances based on genuine security needs.
Strengthening Ties Amid External Pressure
Highlighting the military cooperation between Turkey and Pakistan, Bakshi mentioned that Turkey has supplied Pakistan with nearly 1,000 drones and facilitated their deployment during various operations. Furthermore, he argues that the existence of this coalition is evident even without formal agreements between these nations. “Turkey and Pakistan are already in an undeclared practical alliance,” he affirmed.
Bakshi, while acknowledging Israel as a friend, firmly states that India should not compromise its own national interests to align predominantly with Washington or Jerusalem. “We are not the 51st state of the United States, nor are we an appendage or client state of Israel,” he contends, asserting India’s independent strategic stance.
In conclusion, he vehemently rejects any notion that India should sever ties with Iran due to the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. He argues that these connections are essential for India’s access to vital land routes into Central Asia and Afghanistan, which are strategically significant for New Delhi. Therefore, Bakshi advocates for India to pursue its own interests while navigating complex international relationships without being pressured by external forces.