India's Big Gulf Push: Trade Deal With Six Arab Nations May Worry Pakistan

• India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have formally signed the Terms of Reference (ToR) to resume negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA).
• The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain, established in 1981 for economic cooperation.
• India's engagement with the GCC involves significant trade, energy imports (crude oil, LNG), and nearly ten million Indian expatriates.
• Bilateral trade between India and the GCC reached $178.7 billion in 2024-25, with the UAE being India's third-largest trading partner.
• The renewed India-GCC engagement strengthens New Delhi's image as a stable partner, potentially narrowing Pakistan's strategic room in the region.