*NEW DELHI: Indian Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane will be travelling toSaudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates next week, in an unprecedentedmove that can be seen as a reflection of the growing relationship betweenIndia and the Gulf States.*

As reported by ThePrint, sources in the defence and security establishmenthave stated that the four-day visit will comprise of meetings with militaryand intelligence officials, in addition to Gen. Naravane addressing theSaudi National Defence College.

This will be the Indian Army Chief’s inaugural visit to Saudi Arabia andthe UAE, closely followed by one made by External Affairs Minister S.Jaishankar.

Over the past few years, India’s relations with countries in the MiddleEast, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE, have significantly improved andgrown, with India becoming a source of economic interest for the Gulfnations.

Gen. Naravane’s visit is not simply an extension of those deepening ties,but also a reflection of their shared security and strategic interests. Onthe other hand, this visit comes at a time when Pakistan’s relationshipwith Saudi Arabia, a historically strong ally, has deteriorated.

While Pakistan and the Kingdom held decades of close political, militaryand economic ties, their fraternal relationship hit a roadblock when inAugust this year, Pakistan’s Foriegn Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshicriticised Riyadh for failing to call a special meeting of the Organisationof Islamic Cooperation on the Kashmir issue.

As Pakistan strays further away from its allies in the Middle East, Indiahas continued to strategically make diplomatic incursions into the region.