Hoping for balance

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who died on Friday, was a towering world statesman who, while being mindful of the Wahhabi influence on his nearly 300-year-old lineage, exhibited a modernising tendency — in relation to his own people and in the politics he practised in the context of the transitions occurring in the world.

In his condolence message, President Pranab Mukherjee called the late ruler “a close friend of India”. This is no exaggeration. While traditionally Riyadh has leaned in favour of Pakistan, under King Abdullah the Saudis showed no hesitation in handing over an Indian terrorist staying in the kingdom with a false Pakistani passport over the pleadings of Islamabad.

India would doubtless hope that King Salman, the crown prince and halfbrother of the late ruler who has succeeded to the throne, would continue with the politics of balance, moderation, and of contesting the claims of extremist Islam. Such was the place of the late Saudi monarch in the affairs of the tumultuous West Asia region, and given the delicate nature of successions, US President Barack Obama is cutting out the Agra leg of his visit to India and readjusting schedules to be in Riyadh.

The politics of oil practised under the late king has greatly helped India but has disturbed oil exporting countries, including Russia. It is to be seen if this line of politics will be sustained.