Ahead of United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) Crown Prince Shaikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to New Delhi this week, UAE ambassador to India Ahmed Al Banna on Monday said relations between the two countries are on an upswing with some big ticket announcements on cards relating to nuclear energy, aerospace, defence, security and renewable energy.
In an exclusive interview to The Pioneer, the envoy also said UAE has pledged its support to Indian efforts in counter terrorism and is working closely with Indian security forces.
Al Nahyan is the chief guest for India’s Republic Day celebrations. He will also hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Nearly 13 agreements ranging from economic issues to energy and security are expected to be signed between the two countries following the talks. This will be the second visit of the Crown Prince to India in the last one year. Modi had visited Dubai in August 2015, which was the first visit by an Indian PM in 33 years, last being Indira Gandhi in 1981.
Al Banna said the last two years have been highly fruitful for India-UAE relations and the future is equally promising. “looking at the history of last 35 years, the foreign trade figure of our two countries was $128 million. But the current trade figures for 2015-16 stood at $50 billion. So one can see we have taken huge steps since last 35 years. India is number one trading partner for UAE while UAE is number three trading partner with India after China and USA. Therefore, a lot of effort is involved in strengthening the relations, particularly on the economic front which traditionally involved exporting oil and gas and importing goods,” Al Banna added.
“The chemistry between the two leaders and their foresight in developing relation has helped us reach where things are now,” Al Banna said. Modi had in a recent statement termed Al Nahyan like his younger brother and last year during his visit broke all protocols to receive the Crown Prince personally at the airport.
“The meeting between PM Modi and the Crown Prince in 2015 and later Prince’s visit in 2016 put relations on new path, to a stronger relationship. In February 2016, we had 17 agreements on Double Taxation Avoidance and Protection of Investment and air services. Now we have about 13 pacts lined up. The crown agreement will be the strategic agreement which has put India-UAE on a new track,” the envoy said.
According to the envoy, the upcoming visit is equally promising as Al Nahyan is bringing a huge economic and cultural delegation apart from members of Tolerance Ministry in UAE.
The two countries are also working strongly on terror cooperation. UAE was one of the first countries to issue a strong statement condemning the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase last year. It also backed India’s surgical strikes on the Pak-based terror launch pads saying it supports India’s right to protect itself against extremism. “We bow to the efforts of India on counter terrorism and attacking terror groups and extremists. In fact, we also participate against terror by joining international alliance led by the USA in Syria against Daesh, and as part of Arab Alliance led by Saudi Arabia in Yemen ,” the ambassador said.
Without giving out exact details of India-UAE cooperation on terrorism, the envoy made it clear the India-UAE security partnership is going strong and steady. “Yes we are working very closely. Be it training and exercises or dissemination of information on terrorism, radicalization and piracy,” Al Banna said.
With four UAE diplomats getting killed recently in Kandahar in a terror attack, Al Banna said his country will not remain silent and will certainly take revenge. “We do not want to jump to conclusion and are waiting to know who is behind the attacks. We are patient but we will take revenge. Knowing who is behind, UAE will not keep quiet,” Al Banna said.
An Afghanistan official had claimed Pakistan-based Haqqani Network was behind the attack though the investigating agencies are still working on the clues.