PM Modi, Saudi Crown Prince hold talks, condemn terror attack in Pahalgam

Modi, who arrived in Jeddah on a two-day visit, delayed his scheduled meeting with the Crown Prince by at least two hours to assess the situation in Kashmir, where terrorists killed 26 people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir as they co-chaired the Strategic Partnership Council, aimed at further strengthening the friendship between the two countries.

Modi, who arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday on a two-day visit, delayed his scheduled meeting with the Crown Prince by at least two hours to assess the situation in Kashmir, where terrorists killed 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.

Modi, who held bilateral talks with the Saudi Crown Prince, skipped an official dinner hosted and decided to cut short his visit and return home on Tuesday night, sources said.

He was originally scheduled to return to India on Wednesday night.

Earlier, Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Al Salam Palace (Palace of Peace), where he was received by Crown Prince Mohammed.

The two leaders hugged as they greeted each other, according to the photographs shared by the state-run Saudi Press Agency.

It was followed by detailed bilateral discussions and the meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council, which was established during the prime minister's 2019 visit to strengthen bilateral ties.

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, said the meeting began with a reference to the unfortunate terror attack that has happened in India.

"Both leaders expressed their condemnation for the terror attack. The Crown Prince conveyed his condolences and sympathies and offered any help in this regard to us," the envoy said.

India and Saudi Arabia have cooperation in issues related to terrorism, and they continue to work together, he added.

After the talks, India and Saudi Arabia signed some memoranda of understanding (MoUs).

This is the prime minister's third visit to the Gulf Kingdom and the first one to the historic city of Jeddah.

"This visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Saudi Arabia" Modi earlier posted on X in English and Arabic.

As a special gesture, the prime minister's aircraft was escorted by F-15s of the Royal Saudi Air Force in Saudi airspace. The gesture was seen as a deepening of defence cooperation between the two countries.

"Giving further momentum to our long-standing and historic ties. PM  @narendramodi lands in the historic port city of Jeddah to a 21-gun salute & ceremonial welcome," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

The prime minister, who received Saudi Arabia's highest civilian honour in 2016, has described the crown prince as "my brother".

Saudi Arabia is home to 2.7 million Indians who live and work in the Gulf Kingdom.

In an interview with Arab News ahead of his visit, Modi described Saudi Arabia as "one of India's most valued partners, a maritime neighbour, a trusted friend and a strategic ally".

"We consider Saudi Arabia a force of positivity and stability in the region. As maritime neighbours, India and Saudi Arabia share a natural interest in safeguarding peace and stability in the region," he said.