“Terrorism And Extremism Are A “Common Concern”,” Says Saudi Crown Prince In India
NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman today said terrorism and extremism are a “common concern”. Saudi Arabia will “cooperate with India and neighbouring states” on the matter, he added during a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The bilateral talks between the two leaders were held in the shadow of escalating tension with Pakistan over last week’s Pulwama terror attack, in which 40 soldiers were killed by a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad. The Prince was welcomed by PM Modi with a warm hug as he arrived in New Delhi after a two-day visit to Pakistan, where he praised Islamabad’s efforts for “regional peace and security”.
Here is your important point cheat sheet to Saudi Arabia Crown Prince’s India visit:
“The common concern is terrorism and extremism. We will cooperate with India and neighboring states to ensure future generations are safe. We applaud India’s role in this matter,” Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said.
We have agreed that terrorism should not be supported in any form, and we should put pressure on countries who back terror. To end terror infrastructure, ending support to terror groups and punishing them is essential… I’m glad Saudi Arabia agrees with India on this,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.
“Relations between India and the Arabian peninsula is in our DNA,” Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman told reporters this morning, in the backdrop of criticism in India of his Pakistani visit.
“India welcomes HRH Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. This visit will further cement relations between India and Saudi Arabia,” PM Modi tweeted this morning.
PM Modi broke with government protocol to personally welcome the Saudi Prince; he was seen wrapping the 33-year-old in his signature bear hug by the steps of the Prince’s plane.
Amid India’s efforts to diplomatically isolate Pakistan over the Pulwama terror attack, the Saudi Crown Prince has announced investments worth 20 billion dollars at the end of his two-day visit to Islamabad on Monday.
Saudi Arabia has also vowed to “de-escalate” rising tensions between Pakistan and India during the high-profile summit in Islamabad. A joint statement also said during the talks, the Crown Prince and the Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that “dialogue is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the region to resolve outstanding issues”.
“They also underlined the need for avoiding politicisation of UN listing regime,” the joint statement said in an apparent reference to India’s effort to include list Jaish chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist under UN rules. Jaish has already taken responsibility for Thursday’s attack in Pulwama.
