The Maritime Neighbor: Pakistan's Relations with Oman – A Review

Pakistan has four land neighbours. Two of these, India and Iran, also share maritime boundaries with Pakistan. Oman is the only country that shares a direct maritime boundary with Pakistan, through the Arabian Sea, without having a land connection. Relations between Pakistan and Oman have generally remained cordial. Historical, cultural and religious affinities bind the two states together. Defense sector ties are quite strong, and there is reasonable trade and commercial cooperation between the two sides. In addition, a sizeable number of Pakistanis living and working in Oman are an important linkage between the two sides. However, the relationship remains short of being as robust as the potential suggests. The two countries need to devise joint strategies to further cement it, and to make it broad-based.