Diplomacy and South Asian Security: Iran, Saudi Arabia, and India’s Terror Challenge

Dr. Devender Kumar

10 May 2025

The high-level officials from West Asian countries recently visited India to demonstrate their unwavering support for India in its fight against terrorism. Despite hot rhetoric from Pakistan against India, New Delhi vowed to punish the perpetrators of terror behind the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025 that killed 25 Indians and 1 Nepali citizen.

Internationally, many countries, including the “United Nations Security Council” (UNSC), “strongly condemned” the terror attack on India. Rishi Sunak, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK), stated that “no country should tolerate cross-border terror”. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump highlighted ‘strong support’ and argued that “the US stands strong with India against Terrorism”.

Dr. Abbas Araghchi, the Foreign Minister of Iran, and Adel Al-Jubeir, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, visited India in the backdrop of Operation Sindoor, a counter-operation by India that targeted 9 terror camps of “Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir” (PoJK) with “considerable restraints”.

These visits signified the commitment of these countries against terrorism, as neither country cancelled their visits despite hot rhetoric from Pakistan. This symbolized Iran and Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for India in its fight against terrorism, particularly since the foreign ministers proceeded with their visit despite India’s tensions with Pakistan due to the Pahalgam terror attack.

The Saudi foreign minister, during the visit, “shared India’s perspectives on firmly countering terrorism” and the Iranian foreign minister “strongly condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and called for enhanced regional cooperation to combat the threat”.

Irrespective of hot rhetoric from Pakistan, the Iranian foreign minister “co-chaired the meeting” in New Delhi to mark Iran’s commitment to the ‘friendship treaty’ with India as both countries celebrated 75 years of friendship agreement. And also reviewed the “mutual interest” and “way forward” for strengthening ties, as both are members of the “Shanghai Cooperation Organization” (SCO), which stipulates the development of a “regional anti-terrorist structure”.

During tensions, New Delhi navigated affairs with caution, basically in the context of Pakistan's potential manoeuvring. As Islamabad attempts to leverage its religious and ideological relations with the broader Islamic world, including appeals to Saudi Arabia and Iran for political support in the event of tensions with India.

The diplomatic strategies of Iran and Saudi Arabia toward India can be identified through five significant symbols.

First, these visits symbolized Iran and Saudi Arabia’s commitment to no tolerance for terrorism. As highlighted by India’s Foreign Minister that “the world must show zero tolerance for terrorism”. Both states backed India’s right to retaliate and fight against the perpetrators of terror after the Pehalgam terror attack in India and to provide justice to the victim by counter-strikes in Bahawalpur and Muridke and other places in PoJK, with severe precision to not to target civilian infrastructure and military installations of Pakistan.

Second, it highlighted international diplomatic support for India against terrorism, as many countries worldwide, such as the UAE, Israel, UK, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and USA, provided “international support” to India after its “Operation Sindoor”. Meanwhile, 27 members of the European Union (EU) issued a unified and strong statement in favour of India. Meanwhile, Israel referred to it as an assertion that it is “India’s right to defend itself”.

Third, Iran and Saudi Arabia saw this as an opportunity to enhance their cooperation in multilateral settings. As both are situating themselves in the contemporary multipolar global politics, which calls for anti-terror policies. Therefore, both backed India, which represents the major voice for multilateralism in the global power structure and enjoys membership in multilateral fora such as BRICS, SCO, and other regional organizations.

Fourth, both sides showed unwavering support to India in its fight and highlighted interest in the ‘international and regional developments’ and acknowledged the linkages highlighted by India about the cross-border terrorist attack conducted by Pakistan. Meanwhile, both showed a commitment to continue their cooperation with India, and Tehran signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with India on medical and “customs cooperation”. It also vowed to enhance diplomatic engagements on multilateral platforms and conducted meetings with the national security advisor of India.

Fifth, despite historical closeness with Pakistan, both states diversified their economic and security cooperation with India, viewing it as a major economic and strategic partner for technology, trade, and counter-terrorism. Both countries increasingly see India as a balancing force in South Asia, and navigate their relations with India in a way that reflects cautious distancing from over-reliance on Pakistan.

New Delhi must step carefully, as Pakistan may seek Islamic solidarity amid tensions, while continuing its covert backing for groups like LeT, JeM, and HM. India should expand strategic relations but remain vigilant about potential shifts and regional alignments in support within the Islamic bloc.

Dr. Devender Kumar is Assistant Professor at the Center of Excellence for Geopolitics and International Studies (CEGIS), REVA University.