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More evidence is emerging that Saudi Arabia is deepening its cooperation with India in cracking down on terrorism suspects, an important trend that has implications for Pakistan's bilateral relationship with Riyadh.
Pakistan is Saudi Arabia's traditional ally in South Asia. Both are Islamic countries with majority Sunni populations. Saudi money has fueled the construction of hard-line religious schools in Pakistan that have helped foster Islamist militancy.
But Saudi Arabia also has been moving closer to India, Pakistan's nemesis in the region.
The latest sign came this week as Indian authorities confirmed Saudi Arabia had extradited Fasih Mehmood, an alleged member of Indian Mujahideen, a local militant outfit.
India earlier this year had sought an international arrest warrant for Mr. Mehmood, who is from Bihar and is wanted in connection with an attack in 2010 on a tourist bus in New Delhi and a stadium in Bangalore.
Earlier in October, Saudi Arabia extradited A. Rayees, another alleged Indian militant.
India's Home Ministry said both men, who are in Indian custody, were not contactable. Mr. Mehmood's family have denied he is guilty of any crime.
The two extraditions have built on a trend begun in June, when Saudi Arabia extradited Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, an alleged Indian member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group blamed for the 2008 militant attacks on Mumbai that killed over 160 people.
India and Saudi Arabia signed an extradition treaty in 2010, one of a series of recent steps aimed at strengthening ties. That came after a landmark visit to India by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud in 2006, the first in decades.
There are many theories for why Saudi is cooperating more closely with India.
Some observers view Saudi policy as driven by worries about the inability of Pakistan to control its militant proxies. Those anxieties have heightened in recent years as militants have increasingly attacked Pakistani government and military targets.
"There's a genuine concern in the Saudi establishment that things may get out of hand," said Naresh Chandra, chairman of India's National Security Advisory Board.
Talat Masood, a retired Pakistan army general, says Saudi Arabia, once itself a source of funds for Pakistan-based militant groups, now views its closer relationship with India as a way of forcing Pakistan to moderate its support for these groups.
"The Saudi relationship is no longer a monopoly of Pakistan," Mr. Masood said.
Saudi Arabia also may be using the extraditions to cement its trading links with India, other analysts say.
Saudi is now the largest supplier of oil to India at a time when New Delhi, under U.S. pressure, is cutting back its imports from Iran. Almost two million Indians are working in Saudi.
For Riyadh, its ties with India offer another way to help balance the influence of Iran, a Shiite power that has historically rivaled Saudi for influence in the Middle East and South Asia.
The U.S., concerned about the growing reach of Lashkar-e-Taiba after the Mumbai attacks, likely put pressure on Saudi to follow through with the recent extraditions, believes Ashok Mehta, a retired Indian army general.
"These extraditions wouldn't have taken place without some pressure from the Americans," he said.
A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi declined to comment.
The extradition of Mr. Ansari, the Indian militant sent home in June, was significant as he was allegedly travelling in Saudi Arabia on a Pakistani passport after escaping India. Authorities in India claim he was a senior member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and played an important role in the Mumbai attacks.
Mr. Ansari, who remains in Indian custody, was not contactable. Local media reports say he's currently in custody in Gujarat.
Others say that, while important, the arrests don't mean Saudi has ended its support for Pakistan. Stephen Tankel of the Carnegie Endowment for International Piece, noted in this July piece that Riyadh has not begun to extradite alleged Pakistani militants sought by New Delhi, only Indians.
Mr. Chandra concurs. He pointed out that Mr. Mehmood, the alleged militant extradited this week, is accused of small scale attacks carried out in India. Getting Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to extradite Pakistani militants suspected of attacks on India will be the real test of deep-seated change, he added.
Saudi Arabia Uses India to Balance Pakistan - India Real Time - WSJ
Pakistan is Saudi Arabia's traditional ally in South Asia. Both are Islamic countries with majority Sunni populations. Saudi money has fueled the construction of hard-line religious schools in Pakistan that have helped foster Islamist militancy.
But Saudi Arabia also has been moving closer to India, Pakistan's nemesis in the region.
The latest sign came this week as Indian authorities confirmed Saudi Arabia had extradited Fasih Mehmood, an alleged member of Indian Mujahideen, a local militant outfit.
India earlier this year had sought an international arrest warrant for Mr. Mehmood, who is from Bihar and is wanted in connection with an attack in 2010 on a tourist bus in New Delhi and a stadium in Bangalore.
Earlier in October, Saudi Arabia extradited A. Rayees, another alleged Indian militant.
India's Home Ministry said both men, who are in Indian custody, were not contactable. Mr. Mehmood's family have denied he is guilty of any crime.
The two extraditions have built on a trend begun in June, when Saudi Arabia extradited Sayed Zabiuddin Ansari, an alleged Indian member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based group blamed for the 2008 militant attacks on Mumbai that killed over 160 people.
India and Saudi Arabia signed an extradition treaty in 2010, one of a series of recent steps aimed at strengthening ties. That came after a landmark visit to India by King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud in 2006, the first in decades.
There are many theories for why Saudi is cooperating more closely with India.
Some observers view Saudi policy as driven by worries about the inability of Pakistan to control its militant proxies. Those anxieties have heightened in recent years as militants have increasingly attacked Pakistani government and military targets.
"There's a genuine concern in the Saudi establishment that things may get out of hand," said Naresh Chandra, chairman of India's National Security Advisory Board.
Talat Masood, a retired Pakistan army general, says Saudi Arabia, once itself a source of funds for Pakistan-based militant groups, now views its closer relationship with India as a way of forcing Pakistan to moderate its support for these groups.
"The Saudi relationship is no longer a monopoly of Pakistan," Mr. Masood said.
Saudi Arabia also may be using the extraditions to cement its trading links with India, other analysts say.
Saudi is now the largest supplier of oil to India at a time when New Delhi, under U.S. pressure, is cutting back its imports from Iran. Almost two million Indians are working in Saudi.
For Riyadh, its ties with India offer another way to help balance the influence of Iran, a Shiite power that has historically rivaled Saudi for influence in the Middle East and South Asia.
The U.S., concerned about the growing reach of Lashkar-e-Taiba after the Mumbai attacks, likely put pressure on Saudi to follow through with the recent extraditions, believes Ashok Mehta, a retired Indian army general.
"These extraditions wouldn't have taken place without some pressure from the Americans," he said.
A spokesman at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi declined to comment.
The extradition of Mr. Ansari, the Indian militant sent home in June, was significant as he was allegedly travelling in Saudi Arabia on a Pakistani passport after escaping India. Authorities in India claim he was a senior member of Lashkar-e-Taiba and played an important role in the Mumbai attacks.
Mr. Ansari, who remains in Indian custody, was not contactable. Local media reports say he's currently in custody in Gujarat.
Others say that, while important, the arrests don't mean Saudi has ended its support for Pakistan. Stephen Tankel of the Carnegie Endowment for International Piece, noted in this July piece that Riyadh has not begun to extradite alleged Pakistani militants sought by New Delhi, only Indians.
Mr. Chandra concurs. He pointed out that Mr. Mehmood, the alleged militant extradited this week, is accused of small scale attacks carried out in India. Getting Saudi Arabia and Pakistan to extradite Pakistani militants suspected of attacks on India will be the real test of deep-seated change, he added.
Saudi Arabia Uses India to Balance Pakistan - India Real Time - WSJ
