Latest news with #Saudi-Indian
Asharq Al-Awsat
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Saudi Foreign Minister Holds Talks with Pakistani, Indian, and Uzbek Counterparts
In a series of high-level diplomatic meetings, Saudi Arabia's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, held telephone conversations on Friday with senior officials from Pakistan, India, and Uzbekistan, focusing on bilateral relations and regional developments. Prince Faisal spoke with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Ishaq Dar, to review the strong ties between the Kingdom and Pakistan. The two officials discussed the regional situation and emphasized ongoing efforts to ease tensions and promote stability. Prince Faisal held a telephone call with India's External Affairs Minister, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The discussion also centered on regional issues and de-escalation strategies, as well as exploring ways to further strengthen Saudi-Indian relations. Additionally, Prince Faisal received a phone call from Uzbekistan's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bakhtiyor Saidov. The two ministers discussed matters of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting cooperation across various fields.
India Gazette
23-04-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Pahalgam terror attack: Muslim World League condemns
Mecca [Saudi Arabia], April 23 (ANI): The Muslim World League (MWL) on Wednesday condemned the 'heinous' terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which over 25 people were killed and several others were injured. The statement issued by the MWL's General Secretariat said, 'The MWL affirmed its stance- and that of the entire Islamic world- rejecting and condemning violence and terrorism in all its forms and justifications, and rejecting any attempt to associate it with any religion or culture. It extended its condolences to the families of the victims of this heinous crime and expressed wishes for a swift recovery for the injured.' The MWL's General Secretariat also noted the contents of the joint statement issued at the conclusion of the visit of 'His Excellency the Prime Minister of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically its reference to this horrific attack.' The statement expressed a strong condemnation of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, and rejected any attempt to associate them with any race, religion or culture. It also praised the 'pivotal Saudi-Indian cooperation in combating terrorism and its financing, condemning cross-border terrorism, while advocating to dismantle its infrastructure and bring its perpetrators to justice.' Earlier, the countries of the Arab world had condemned the heinous terror attack which took place in Pahalgam on Tuesday. The Pahalgam terrorist attack has been one of the biggest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. Following the terror attack, security forces have launched search operations on Wednesday to track down the terrorists responsible. Security has been heightened since the attack, with visuals from the area showing the streets deserted in the usually bustling tourist area. Many organisations have also called for a Jammu bandh following the attack. (ANI)
Asharq Al-Awsat
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Muslim World League Condemns Jammu, Kashmir Terrorist Attack
The Muslim World League (MWL) has condemned the terrorist attack in the Pahalgam area of Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in dozens of innocent civilian casualties. In a statement, the MWL affirmed its, and the entire Islamic world's, rejection and condemnation of violence and terrorism in all its forms and under any pretext, as well as its rejection of linking such acts to any religion or culture. It extended condolences to the victims' families and wished the injured a speedy recovery, SPA reported. The MWL's General Secretariat also highlighted the joint statement issued following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's state visit to Saudi Arabia, which condemned the attack and rejected any attempt to link it to race, religion, or culture. The league commended the pivotal Saudi-Indian cooperation in combating terrorism and its financing, denouncing cross-border terrorism, dismantling its infrastructure, and bringing its perpetrators to justice.
Leaders
23-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
Saudi Arabia, India Forge Energy Pact to Build Two Refineries
Saudi Arabia and India have agreed to deepen energy ties and pursue closer cooperation in areas like tourism and technology, with the aim to strengthen relations amid global economic turbulence. The two nations have reached an accord to establish two oil refineries in India through a joint venture following a meeting between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Jeddah on Tuesday night. India's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, announced the deal without providing further details. Economic Challenges and Opportunities Both countries face significant economic challenges. India is experiencing its slowest economic expansion in four years, while Saudi Arabia grapples with subdued oil prices. Additionally, deeper ties between the two nations could bolster stability and energy security. This partnership builds on years of collaboration between the G20 nations across various sectors, including oil, agriculture, and technology. In 2019, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman pledged $100 billion of investments in India. However, only about $10 billion has materialized so far. State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco has long sought entry into India's refining sector with limited success. Challenges such as land acquisition and valuation issues have hindered previous projects. However, it remains unclear whether Aramco will be involved in the newly announced refineries. Shifting Market Dynamics Saudi Arabia, once India's largest oil supplier, has seen its market share decline as imports from Russia and Iraq increase. This agreement could potentially reshape the energy landscape between the two nations. Ahead of his visit, Modi highlighted the exploration of joint projects in refineries and petrochemicals which aligns with the broader goal of enhancing energy security and economic stability. The agreement between Saudi Arabia and India to establish two oil refineries marks a significant step forward in their strategic partnership. As both nations navigate economic challenges, this collaboration could pave the way for greater stability and growth. Closer Saudi-Indian ties promise enhanced energy security and economic stability since Both G20 nations aim to transform years of exploratory talks into actionable partnerships across sectors. Short link : Post Views: 4
Leaders
22-04-2025
- Business
- Leaders
India's PM Modi Embarks on Historic Visit to Saudi Arabia
The Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has embarked on a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, upon the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman. The historic visit, Modi's third to the Kingdom after two previous visits in 2016 and 2019, comes amid intensified high-level diplomatic engagements between Saudi Arabia and India aimed at enhancing bilateral relations across various sectors. Modi Arrives in Jeddah On Tuesday, Modi arrived in Jeddah, marking his first visit to the Kingdom's commercial capital. A video footage showed Saudi fighter jets escorting Modi's plane as it entered Saudi airspace. #WATCH | In a special gesture, fighter planes from Saudi Arabia escort Prime Minister Narendra Modi's plane as it entered Saudi airspace to Jeddah. — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2025 Before leaving for Saudi Arabia, the Indian Prime Minister hailed Saudi-Indian relations, saying that New Delhi values its long and historic ties with Riyadh which 'have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years.' Modi added that both countries have fostered a 'mutually beneficial and substantial partnership' in many fields, such as defense, trade, investment, energy and people-to-people ties. Furthermore, both Saudi Arabia and India 'have shared interest and commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability,' India's Prime Minister said. What's on the Agenda? The Indian Prime Minister emphasized the significance of Saudi-Indian ties, which evolved over time into a stronger and enduring partnership, expanding into many strategic domains to include investment commitments, defense cooperation and high-level exchanges across key sectors. During his high-profile visit to the Kingdom, Modi will co-chair the second meeting of the Saudi Arabia-India Strategic Partnership Council alongside the Saudi Crown Prince. Moreover, Modi will engage with the vibrant Indian community in the Kingdom, estimated at 2.7 million, highlighting their role in serving as a bridge between the two nations to boost cultural and human ties. New Agreements The visit will also witness the signing of numerous memoranda of understanding (MoUs), as well as discussions focusing on bolstering economic relations, enhancing defense cooperation and addressing regional issues, the Times of India reported citing Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan. While in Jeddah, Modi is likely to see the signing of at least 6 MoUs, amid ongoing talks to finalize more agreements in trade, investment and defense. The new deals will cover several areas, including space, energy, health, science, culture, and advanced technology. Both countries enjoy strong defense ties, with a defense MoU signed in 2014 to boost bilateral cooperation. The MoU has paved the way for conducting joint naval and land military exercises. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and India boast robust bilateral trade, valued at around $43 billion. Saudi-India Strategic Partnership In an interview with Arab News, Modi hailed ties with Saudi Arabia, describing the Kingdom as 'a trusted friend, strategic ally and one of the most valued partners for India.' He emphasized that the bilateral partnership has 'limitless potential.' Moreover, the Indian Prime Minister praised the leadership of the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, under which the Kingdom 'has undergone tremendous social and economic transformation,' adding that 'his insights, his forward-thinking vision, and his passion for fulfilling the aspirations of his people are truly remarkable.' Modi also noted that Prince Mohammed bin Salman is a 'strong advocate of our bilateral ties. He has been a great supporter of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia and our people living in Saudi Arabia deeply admire him.' Boosting Trade Ties Modi highlighted the vibrant trade relations between Saudi Arabia and India, particularly in sectors such as energy, agriculture and fertilizers. He pointed out that both countries are working on a Bilateral Investment Treaty to enhance business ties. He also added that the proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and GCC has massive potential to transform the Saudi-Indian economic relations. During the G20 Summit, held in New Delhi in September 2023, Saudi Arabia, the European Union (EU), India, the UAE, France, Germany, Italy, and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to advance the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a grand project that will connect India to Europe via the Gulf. Commenting on the IMEC, Modi said that this corridor will 'define the future of connectivity in all forms for centuries to come,' describing it as the 'the new Silk Route of the 21st century.' Short link : Post Views: 1
