i A STUDY OF WEST ASIA THROUGH THE PRISM OF SHIA-SUNNI CONFLICT: IMPLICATIONS FOR INDIA A Dissertation submitted to the Panjab University, Chandigarh in partial fulfilment of the requirement for the award of Master of Philosophy in Social Sciences By Brigadier Rakesh Manocha, SM, VSM (Roll No. 4420) Under the guidance of Dr Sachin Chowdhry 44th Advance Professional Programme In Public Administration (2018-19) Indian Institute of Public Administration New Delhi ii CERTIFICATE I have the pleasure to certify that Brig Rakesh Manocha, SM, VSM has pursued his research work and prepared the present dissertation titled ‘A Study of West Asia through the Prism of Shia-Sunni Conflict: Implications for India’ under my guidance and supervision. The dissertation is the result of his own research and to the best of my knowledge, no part of it has earlier comprised any other monograph, dissertation or book. This is being submitted to the Panjab University, Chandigarh, in partial fulfilment of award of Master of Philosophy in Social Sciences based on curriculum of Advance Professional Programme in Public Administration (APPPA) at Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi. I recommend that the dissertation of Brig Rakesh Manocha, SM, VSM is worthy of consideration for the award of M.Phil degree of Panjab University, Chandigarh. Dr Sachin Chowdhry Supervisor and Guide IIPA, Delhi iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENT At the outset I wish to acknowledge the opportunity provided by the Indian Institute of Public Administration, Delhi to pursue research on the fascinating subject of West Asia through the prism of Sectarian Divide in the post American invasion of 2003 and its repercussions on India. I am especially indebted to Prof Ashok Kumar Vishandass, Program Director APPPA-44 without whose initial push I would not have been exposed to this fascination subject. My dissertation would not have been complete in its current form without the whole hearted support of Dr Sachin Chowdhry, who has been my friend, philosopher and guide in this endeavor. I am particularly thankful to him for making me focus towards the study and providing me references of certain important books and journals relevant to my research. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr Roma Mitra Debnath for her presentation at IIPA Delhi, which brought out the various tenets of research methodology. I also seek to express my gratitude to the Library Analysts and staff at IIPA Delhi, who have always been helpful in assisting in my research by providing valuable inputs and access to reference material. I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the patience and support of my wife Poonam, and children Prerna and Rhea, without which it would not have been possible for me to put in the long hours during the long hours that I spent at home. Date: Mar 2019 (Rakesh Manocha) Place : New Delhi Brigadier Roll No -4420 APPPA-44 iv Table of Contents (i) FIGURES AND TABLES .................................................................................................. ix 1 CHAPTER-I ............................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Historical Background ............................................................................. 1 1.1.2 USA Policy in Middle East ...................................................................... 4 1.1.3 Significance of the Region for India ........................................................ 6 1.2 Critical Issues .................................................................................................. 8 1.3 Rationale / Justification ................................................................................. 11 1.4 Research Objectives ...................................................................................... 12 1.5 Research Questions ....................................................................................... 12 1.6 Methodology ................................................................................................. 12 1.7 Limitations of the Study ................................................................................ 13 1.8 Chapterisation Scheme .................................................................................. 13 2 CHAPTER – II: HISTORY OF ISLAM AND RISE OF SHIA-SUNNI DIVIDE ............. 15 2.1 History of Islam ............................................................................................. 15 2.1.1 Birth of Islam ......................................................................................... 15 2.1.2 Tenets of Islam ....................................................................................... 16 2.1.3 Expansion of Islam ................................................................................ 19 2.2 Rise of Shia Islam - Shia-Sunni Divide ........................................................ 24 v 2.3 Modern Islam ................................................................................................ 29 2.3.1 Demography ........................................................................................... 29 2.3.2 Political Islam ........................................................................................ 30 2.3.3 Wahhabism / Salafism ........................................................................... 32 2.3.4 Islam and Modern Concepts of Governance .......................................... 33 2.3.5 Leadership of the Muslim World ........................................................... 34 2.3.6 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation ..................................................... 36 3 CHAPTER- III: THE RISE OF SHIA IRAN ...................................................................... 38 3.1 Shia Crescent ................................................................................................. 38 3.2 Geostrategic Importance of Iran .................................................................... 39 3.2.1 Geography .............................................................................................. 39 3.2.2 Historical Perspective ............................................................................ 41 3.2.3 Demography ........................................................................................... 44 3.2.4 Economics .............................................................................................. 46 3.2.5 Internal Dynamics .................................................................................. 47 3.2.6 Relevance of Iraq ................................................................................... 49 3.2.7 Geo-Political Imperatives ...................................................................... 50 3.2.8 Summary ................................................................................................ 51 3.3 Geostrategic Importance of Iraq .................................................................... 52 3.3.1 Geography and History .......................................................................... 52 vi 3.3.2 Government and Foreign Policy ............................................................ 54 3.3.3 Relation with Iran .................................................................................. 55 3.3.4 Role in Shia Crescent ............................................................................. 56 3.4 Geostrategic Importance of Syria .................................................................. 57 3.4.1 Geography and History .......................................................................... 57 3.4.2 Government and Foreign Policy ............................................................ 58 3.4.3 Relation with Iran .................................................................................. 61 3.4.4 Role in Shia Crescent ............................................................................. 61 3.5 Other Players ................................................................................................. 62 3.5.1 Bahrain ................................................................................................... 62 3.5.2 Palestine ................................................................................................. 63 3.5.3 Kuwait .................................................................................................... 64 3.5.4 Jordan ..................................................................................................... 65 4 CHAPTER – IV: THE SHIA CRESCENT AND THE ARAB MIDDLE EAST .............. 66 4.1 History of Middle East Geo Politics ............................................................. 66 4.2 Iranian Relation with the Arab World ........................................................... 68 4.2.1 Iran – Saudi Arabia: Manifestation of the Shia-Sunni Divide ............... 68 4.2.2 Iran-Egypt: A Relationship in the Making............................................. 71 4.2.3 Rise of Sunni Revolutionary: A Wild Card ........................................... 75 4.3 Are Shia’s Rising: A Counter View .............................................................. 77 vii 5 CHAPTER V: USA POLICY IN MIDDLE EAST ............................................................ 80 5.1 History ..........................................................................................................