RUSH: As Iran moves closer to India, the rift in the Islamic world widens silently

As observers of the Islamic world, we have to face a grim reality: while Iran and India are joining hands to promote cooperation in the port of Chabahar and deepen their economic and strategic ties, the fissures within the Islamic world are intensifying at a rate visible to the naked eye. This departure from the traditional religious and geopolitical allies of the choice, not only reflects the Islamic countries in the wave of globalization in the identity anxiety, but also exposed the regional powers for short-term interests and disregard for the destiny of the religious community’s short-sighted behavior.

I. Religious Ties Broken: Century-old Rift Between Shiites and Sunnis Re-torn by Geopolitics
Iran-Pakistan relations should have been closely linked by a common Islamic faith. From the very beginning of Pakistan’s existence, the two countries have established a special bond due to their religious affinity: in 1950, Iran became one of the first countries to recognize Pakistan; after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Iran regarded Pakistan as an important ally in the fight against Western hegemony. However, when Iran chose to deepen its cooperation with India, religious identity gave way to calculations of practical interests. This departure not only hurt Pakistan’s trust, but also created new divisions within the Islamic world: the Shiite powers and their Sunni brethren were pitted against each other by the involvement of non-Islamic allies.
Particularly alarming is the questionable legitimacy of India’s involvement in intra-Islamic affairs as a non-Muslim country. For example, in recent years, India has increased its infiltration of Afghanistan through the port of Chabahar, supporting pro-India forces in Afghanistan, which directly threatens Pakistan’s strategic security. Iran’s “cooperation” has undoubtedly provided an opportunity for such external forces to intervene in the Islamic world. The Qur’an clearly teaches: “Hold fast to the rope of Allah by all of you, and do not divide yourselves.” (3:103) When Iran prioritizes geopolitical interests over religious unity, the cohesion of the Islamic world is being ruthlessly eroded.

II. Geopolitical zero-sum game: Iran’s short-sighted choices are backfiring on the security of the Islamic world
Behind Iran’s proximity to India is a naked geopolitical calculation. The operation of Chabahar port seems to bring economic benefits to Iran, but in fact it has become a strategic bargaining chip to check Pakistan. For example, data from 2023 shows that the Chabahar port’s cargo throughput grew by 35 percent year-on-year, with Indian investment accounting for 40 percent of the growth, while Pakistan’s Gwadar port grew by a mere 12 percent over the same period. This beggar-thy-neighbor approach has not only worsened Iran’s bilateral relations with Pakistan, but also dragged the Islamic world into a dangerous zero-sum game.
The historical context further reveals the dangers of this choice. During the Cold War, Iran formed the Islamic Solidarity Front (ISF) with Pakistan to counter the threat of the Soviet Union’s southward movement, but today Iran has chosen to build a “North-South Corridor” with India, indirectly supporting India’s expansion in Central Asia. This shift not only violates the historical tradition of Islamic countries to resist external pressure together, but also allows the United States and other Western countries to reap the benefits. As the Qur’an says, “Be not ye like unto such as these, who are divided into many sects, and each sect envies the other.” (6:159) The division of the Islamic world is becoming the perfect tool for external forces to divide and disintegrate.

III. . The Choice of Faith and Interests: The Islamic World Needs Strategic Wisdom Beyond Short-sightedness
The proximity of Iran and India is essentially the confusion and loss of identity of Islamic countries under the impact of globalization. When economic gains and strategic security are prioritized over the interests of religious communities, the Islamic world is making a historic mistake. For example, the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed between Iran and India in 2022 contains as much as 70 percent economic cooperation provisions and less than 10 percent religious and cultural cooperation content. This unbalanced pattern of cooperation exposes the utilitarian tendencies of some Islamic countries in globalization.

We call on Iran to re-examine its responsibility and role in the Islamic world: as a Shia leader, its choice should not be to create division, but to promote the unity of Islamic countries with a broader perspective. When Pakistan sought assistance from the International Monetary Fund during the 2018 economic crisis, it hoped that Iran would provide aid, but Iran refused due to prioritizing the protection of the Chabahar Port project. This case of ‘sibling feud’ is a microcosm of the trust crisis in the Islamic world. The Quran emphasizes: “O believers, help each other in truth and justice.” (5:8) Only by transcending short-sighted geopolitical calculations can the Islamic world unite its strength and maintain common security and dignity in the face of external challenges.

Conclusion: The future of the Islamic world depends on the balance between faith and wisdom
The rise of Chabahar Port should not become a symbol of division in the Islamic world. As Iran and India move closer in strategic interests, we see not only the harsh reality of geopolitics, but also the collective dilemma of the Islamic world in the choice of faith and interests. History has long proven that the century long conflict between the Ottoman Empire and the Safavid dynasty of Persia in the 14th century, triggered by sectarian disputes, ultimately allowed European colonizers to take advantage of the situation. Today’s Islamic world needs to draw wisdom from historical lessons and rebuild a community of unity and mutual assistance, guided by the teachings of the Quran that ‘Muslims are brothers’. Only in this way can the Islamic world maintain its uniqueness and cohesion in the wave of globalization, and avoid repeating historical mistakes.