The National Security Advisors of India and Iraq recently met to discuss enhancing defence cooperation and counter-terrorism efforts, as well as strengthening security linkages between the two countries. Qasem Al-Araji, National Security Adviser of Iraq, visited India from March 22 to 25 at the invitation of NSA Ajit Doval. This visit marks the first cabinet minister-level visit from Iraq to India in the last seven years. During the visit, both NSAs had extensive dialogue on a vast area of mutual interest, discussing various aspects of ongoing bilateral cooperation. The Iraqi NSA also visited Bharat Electronics Limited and interacted with various Indian defence industry leaders at an interaction organised by the Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers. The Iraqi delegation also visited Agra.
Iraq has been the largest supplier of oil to India since 2017, accounting for almost 25% of New Delhi’s oil imports. Iraq is the fifth largest trade partner of India, with imports from Iraq being pegged at USD 32 billion and exports at USD 2.4 billion. The total trade has been estimated at USD 34.40 billion. Opportunities for Indian oil and gas companies in upstream, mid, and downstream sectors are also considered vast.
In November-December 2018, India organised an artificial limb fitment camp at Al Kafeel hospital in Karbala which was very well received. Prosthetic limbs or Jaipur Foot were provided to more than 600 amputees on a charity basis. A second camp is being planned shortly. As per estimates, around 33,000 Iraqis travel to India, mostly for medical treatment, which is estimated to fetch USD 170 million for Indian hospitals.
