Terrorism, extremism a common concern with India: Saudi Prince

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian leader Narendra Modi vowed yesterday to increase pressure on countries that fuel terrorism. Neither mentioned a target, but their accord came as Modi has stepped up warnings to Pakistan following a suicide attack in Kashmir that left at least 40 paramilitaries dead. Modi again slammed the “barbaric attack” last week as he said: “To tackle this menace effectively, we agreed that there is a need to increase all possible pressure on countries supporting terrorism in any way.

“It is extremely important to eliminate the terror infrastructure and stop support to terrorists and their supporters.” Prince Mohammed, who arrived in Delhi from a twoday visit to Pakistan as the cross-frontier tensions heightened, had offered to help the neighbours end the showdown over the bombing. “Terrorism and extremism is a common concern for India and Saudi Arabia,” the crown prince said after talks with Modi. “I want to state that we are ready to cooperate with India, including through intelligence sharing,” he added.

Earlier, Prince Mohammed predicted “good things” will come out of talks with Indian leaders as he started a landmark visit to the world’s largest democracy Wednesday. “Today we want to be sure this relationship is maintained and improved for the sake of both countries,” the crown prince said in comments to reporters after full ceremonial welcome in Delhi. “I am sure we can create good things for Saudi Arabia and India,” he added after inspecting a guard of honour at the presidential palace.

The crown prince said the two countries were in each other’s “DNA”, highlighting the importance of Indian labour and experts in Saudi Arabia over the past 70 years as well as a longstanding Saudi presence in India. Saudi officials have offered to help “de-escalate tensions” between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs Adel al-Jubeir said in Islamabad on Monday that the delegation would “see if there is a path forward to resolving those differences peacefully”.

Saudi Arabia currently supplies about 20 per cent of India’s crude oil and wants to definitively push aside arch-rival Iran as a source. In Pakistan, the Saudi prince announced $20 billion of investment for the Muslim country. Prince Mohammed was expected to go on to China later Wednesday.