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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2026}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2026}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations|India–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|India|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|map=India_Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic_Locator.png}}
[[India]] and [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)]] had formal diplomatic relations from 1985 till 2000.
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/international/story/19851031-india-recognises-sadr-diplomatic-links-with-moracco-breaks-802081-2014-01-14|title=India recognises SADR, diplomatic links with Moracco breaks|first=Dilip|last=Bobb|date=15 January 2014|website=India Today}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite journal|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/4409617|title=Derecognition of Western Sahara: Foreign Policy Volte-Face|author=Punyapriya Dasgupta|year=2000|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=35|issue=33|pages=2914-2917|via=JSTOR}}</ref>

==Background==
During the [[Cold War]], despite its [[non-aligned movement|non-aligned position]], India was closely
linked to the [[Soviet Union]]. In 1985, when the then [[prime minister of India]], [[Rajiv Gandhi]], visited [[Algeria]] on his way to meet [[President of the United States|President]] [[Ronald Reagan|Reagan]] of the [[United States of America]] to meet [[President of Algeria|Algerian president]], [[Chadli Bendjedid]], who was also a great friend of the Soviet Union, Rajiv Gandhi was convinced about the need to recognise [[Polisario Front|Polisario]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=NAQVI |first=SAEED |date=2021-11-20 |title=Decisions By A Prime Minister Which An Ambassador Reversed |url=https://www.thecitizen.in/index.php/en/NewsDetail/index/4/21137/Decisions-By-A-Prime-Minister-Which-An-Ambassador-Reversed |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.thecitizen.in |language=en}}</ref> [[Mohamed Abdelaziz (Sahrawi politician)|Mohammad Abdelaziz]], the Polisario leader, was a friend of [[Cuban Revolution|Cuban revolutionist]] [[Fidel Castro]] and had Soviet backing. Upon his meeting with Bendjedid, the Indian prime minister agreed to recognise the [[sovereignty]] of [[Western Sahara]]. The decision got diluted only 24 hours later when the prime minister was persuaded in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] that the decision to recognise the Polisario should be delayed if not cancelled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Naqvi |first=Saeed |date=2021-11-29 |title=Saeed Naqvi {{!}} When Indian diplomacy left both Moscow & US annoyed {{!}} Saeed Naqvi {{!}} When Indian diplomacy left both Moscow & US annoyed |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/opinion/columnists/281121/saeed-naqvi-when-indian-diplomacy-left-both-moscow-us-annoyed.html |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.deccanchronicle.com |language=en}}</ref>

==Diplomatic Relations==
India recognised the [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]] on 1 October 1985, nine years after the proclamation of independence of [[Western Sahara]] by the [[Polisario Front]], which led to the sudden collapse of ties between [[New Delhi]] and [[Rabat]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://rsdebate.nic.in/bitstream/123456789/277757/2/IQ_147_01091988_U4324_p71_p73.pdf | title=Written answers to questions | website=rsdebate.nic.in}}</ref>

Subsequently, on 26 June 2000, New Delhi withdrew its recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/2000/33/commentary/derecognition-western-sahara.html|title=Derecognition of Western Sahara|first=Punyapriya|last=Dasgupta|date=12 August 2000|journal=Economic and political weekly|volume=35|issue=2000|via=www.epw.in}}</ref>

==Visits==
Rajiv Gandhi, the then prime minister of India visited Algeria in 1985 where he met Algerian president, Chadli Bendjedid, after which he made the decision to recognise [[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]].<ref name=":0" />

In 1985, [[Katyayani Shankar Bajpai|K. S. Bajpai]] (former [[diplomat]]) visited the [[De facto|de-facto]] [[Capital city|capital]] of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in [[Rabouni refugee camp|Rabouni camp]],[[Tindouf Province|Tindouf]].<ref name=":0" />

Smt. Prashawati Gupte, [[Member of Parliament (India)|Member of Parliament]], visited [[Algeria]] from 24 February to 2 March 1986 to participate in the tenth anniversary commemoration of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/India-Algeria-Relation-May-2025.pdf | title=India-Algeria Relations | website=www.mea.gov.in}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India-Algeria Relations {{!}} Embassy of India Algiers, Algeria |url=https://www.indianembassyalgiers.gov.in/page/india-algeria-relations/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.indianembassyalgiers.gov.in |language=english}}</ref>

[[Malainine Sadik]], [[Minister of Foreign Affairs (Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) visited India in September 1996 and held talks on matters of mutual interest.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Issue No. 28 : Occassional Paper |url=http://www.mei.org.in/archives-occassional-paper/india-and-the-arab-spring--regime-changes-in-north-africa-/issue-no-28/introduction |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=MEI.ORG.IN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamal Fadel - On Line Opinion Author |url=https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/author.asp?id=570 |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=On Line Opinion}}</ref>

==Diplomatic Missions==
[[Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]] opened a full-fledged [[embassy]] in G-53, [[Nizamuddin West]], [[New Delhi]].<ref name=":1" /> However, within a month, it was realised that apart from having an embassy in the national capital, there was no real engagement with the [[Government of India|Indian government]]. Consequently, the embassy was temporarily shut down the following year due to inactivity.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.vifindia.org/sites/default/files/Western-Sahara-The-North-African-Gordian-Knot.pdf#:~:text=The%20Polisario%20Front%20holds%20the,Sahrawi%20Arab%20Democratic%20Republic%20(SADR).&text=However%2C%20over%20the%20years%2C%20the,has%20bolstered%20several%20notches | title=Western Sahara The North African Gordian Knot | page=10 | author=Samir Bhattacharya}}</ref>

The Indian ambassador in [[Algiers]] was concurrently accredited to Sahrawi Arab Democaratic Republic (SADR).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sachdev |first=Ambassador Mahesh |date=2025-11-28 |title=Ananta Insights {{!}} UNSCR 2797 Nudges Western Sahara Dispute Towards a Solution{{!}} {{!}} Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev {{!}} November 2025 |url=https://anantacentre.in/ananta-insights-unscr-2797-nudges-western-sahara-dispute-towards-a-solution-ambassador-mahesh-sachdev-november-2025/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=ANANTA CENTRE |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since 1994 till 2000, the [[List of diplomatic missions of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|mission of Sahrawi Arab Democaratic Republic (SADR) at New Delhi]] has been headed by a [[chargé d'affaires]] rather than an [[ambassador]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://eparlib.sansad.in/bitstream/123456789/460162/1/72577.pdf | title=Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state... Answer | website=eparlib.sansad.in}}</ref>

In June 2000, India withdrawn from recognising Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) terminating the diplomatic status of the embassy. Though, India conveyed to the [[List of diplomatic missions of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic|mission of Sahrawi Arab Democaratic Republic (SADR) at New Delhi]], that they could continue as a office if they so desired without diplomatic status and amenities. The then Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)'s chargé d'affaires, completely closed down his office, after receiving instructions from his concerned authorities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Q. 1902 PERMISSION TO POLISARIO TO OPEN EMBASSY IN DELHI |url=https://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/21378/Q+1902+PERMISSION+TO+POLISARIO+TO+OPEN+EMBASSY+IN+DELHI |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241201222132/https://www.mea.gov.in/rajya-sabha.htm?dtl/21378/Q+1902+PERMISSION+TO+POLISARIO+TO+OPEN+EMBASSY+IN+DELHI |archive-date=2024-12-01 |access-date=2026-03-05 |work=Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India |language=en-US}}</ref>

The former embassy currently works as a representation office.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=embassies in india {{!}} honorary consulates |url=https://www.india-travelinfo.com/embassies-india.html |access-date=2026-03-05 |website=www.india-travelinfo.com}}</ref>

[[Mohamed Kamal Fadel]] and Haiba Abbas has previously served as the ambassador at large to India, for Sahrawi Republic.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ghosh |first=Rudroneel |title=Moroccan Sahara Issue: Information relayed by Embassy of Algeria in New Delhi |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/talkingturkey/moroccan-sahara-issue-information-relayed-by-embassy-of-algeria-in-new-delhi/ |access-date=2026-03-05 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Trade ==
In 2026, the Indian company Paradeep Phosphates Limited is the biggest importer of [[Phosphate|Western Saharan Phosphate]]. As a matter of fact, it is the only one of the three companies that continue to buy phosphate rock from the disputed land. Paradeep is also a subsidiary of [[Morocco|Moroccan]] state-owned [[OCP Group]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:India-Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic relations}}
[[Category:India–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India]]
[[Category:India–Africa relations]]

India–Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic relations - Revision history

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