NEW DELHI – Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in NewDelhi on Tuesday, with his business mission under threat of beingovershadowed by soaring tensions between India and Pakistan.
The crown prince, who wants to persuade the world’s fastest growing majoreconomy to consume more Saudi oil, was greeted at the airport by PrimeMinister Narendra Modi, who gave his traditional bear hug for honouredguests.
The prince arrived from two day visit of Pakistan as it clashed with thesuicide attack in Kashmir last Thursday which left at least 40 members ofIndian security forces dead.
The latest showdown between the nuclear-armed neighbours, which is causingmounting international concern, is expected to figure prominently in PrinceMohammed’s talks with Modi on Wednesday.
“Our objective is to try to de-escalate tensions between the two countries,neighbouring countries, and to see if there is a path forward to resolvingthose differences peacefully,” Saudi minister of state Adel al-Jubeir saidin Islamabad on Monday.
Pakistan PM offered investigations if India provided proof of itsinvolvement — but said his country would retaliate if attacked.
India rebuffed Khan’s olive branch and measured response and called in turnfor “credible and visible action” to rein in militants.
Before Thursday’s attack, the agenda for the crown prince’s visit had beendominated by oil and other key investment decisions.
Saudi Arabia currently supplies about 20 percent of India’s crude oil andit would like to definitively push aside arch-rival Iran as a source.
Iran at one stage last year overtook Saudi Arabia among India’s suppliersbut US sanctions since have severely hit the Islamic Republic’s oilbusiness.
Read Top Stories
Modi has also wooed Saudi investment in recent years for flagshipinfrastructure programmes.
“I think even in the backdrop of this attack, the economic ties — whichare beneficial to both the countries — will remain the focus of themeetings,” Kabir Taneja, associate fellow with Observer ResearchFoundation, a New Delhi-based think-tank, told AFP.
“India and Saudi Arabia know what they want from each other: India will belooking for a leverage on oil pricing while Saudi Arabia, which is tryingto diversify its economy, is looking at access to rising India’s market,”he added.
Taneja said India would aim for Saudi Arabia’s “unconditional support toPakistan”.
The crown prince is on a three-country Asian tour as the kingdom seeks torecover its reputation after last year’s murder of journalist JamalKhashoggi.
Prince Mohammed is to leave India late Wednesday and is expected to spendtwo days in China.
Analysts have said the tour is part of a pivot to rising Asia as a growingoil market and a message to the West where the crown prince has faced harshcriticism over the Khashoggi affair. -APP/AFP
