According to BS Brar, professor of political theory and international relations at Punjab University, Chandigarh, "With regard to foreign relations, our approach was rather ideological a few decades ago, so we kept a distance from countries like Israel.

But gradually, India's approach is getting more pragmatic in nature, and so we have opened up to Israel, and that's a good sign.

On September 3, 2008, he offered a chaddar at the dargah of Khwaja Moinuddhin Chisthi at Ajmer.

"Judaism and Islam are basically sister religions and both teach us love and peace.

[7] He also referred to some Muslim countries, which have recognised Israel and have established diplomatic relations with Jerusalem.