MADRAS, India -- India has now realized that it needs a new strategy for fighting terror on its soil. More importantly, it now understands that it requires new allies as well. When Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon flew into New Delhi recently, his visit signaled a turning point in India's foreign policy. It also indicated New Delhi's resolve to set aside traditional loyalties and forge fresh ones.
Sharon is the first Israeli prime minister to come to India. Although New Delhi established diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv in 1992 -- as the last national government to do so -- the ties have been low key till now.
India has underplayed this relationship all these years largely because of its Muslim residents -- about 150 million of the nation's billion-plus population. India's Muslims are second only to Indonesia's in number. India also had other other considerations that kept it away from Israel: About 3 million Indians work in the Arab states, which supply one-fourth of India's oil.