ISLAMABAD – What is behind Gulf Arab countries criminal silence againstIndia over Occupied Kashmir crisis?

Gulf Arab countries have been silent mostly against India over OccupiedKashmir cause, according to experts, because of the volume of trade theyenjoy with India. It comes to roughly $100 billion, wrote AP Middle East onThursday in an analysis.

Saudia Arabia has urged “restraint”. There were no statements from Kuwait,Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. The UAE said it was an “internal” matter. Itstrade volume with India was $50 billion in 2018.

There are over 7 million Indians who work in Arab countries as labourers,doctors, engineers and teachers.

Another key ally for Pakistan, Turkey, has just $7 billion in trade withIndia. It has backed Pakistan. Iran has issued statements calling for talksand peace but not much more.

But the biggest move came from Saudi Arabia’s Aramco which poured $15billion into India’s Reliance at the start of the week. The Saudi crownprince has said they would be investing $100 billion more in the years tocome.

These developments were met with criticism and dismay from Muslims who havebeen following the Kashmir crisis since August 5 when Indian troops put thedisputed territory on lockdown and scrapped a part of the law that gaveKashmir special status.

It was on August 14 that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s 57members issued a statement which was tweeted: “OIC General Secretariat haslearnt with concern the reports of curtailment of religious freedoms of#Kashmiri Muslims in the #Indian Occupied Jammu and #Kashmir, includingcomplete lockdown even on the auspicious occasion of #Eid, denying#EidAlAdha congregation.”