Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
Riyadh, October 30
In a significant development, India and Saudi Arabia, who now stand united in a diplomatic ‘warm embrace’, will keep away from “interfering” in internal matters of other countries.
A joint statement issued on Tuesday night after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia said the two sides “reiterated their categorical rejection of all forms of interference in the internal affairs of countries, and the need for the international community to fulfill its responsibilities towards preventing any attacks on the sovereignty of states”.
Both these points relate to India and its relationship with Pakistan as the latter often leans on Saudi Arabia for support and fiscal assistance. Sources said the issue of Kashmir was “not mentioned” at the bilateral meeting of Modi with Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Sultan.
“Saudi Arabian side is clear that what India is doing in Kashmir is for the benefit of our own people,” sources on Indian side said, adding that Saudis understand us better on Kashmir and our position on it.
Saudi Arabia has in the past and also at the bilateral on Tuesday assured that it gives no support to Pakistan on Kashmir. It sees India as one entity and not a land of separate, religions, regions or cultures or identities, sources add.
On terrorism, the two countries said they rejected any attempt to link this universal phenomenon (of terrorism) to any particular race, religion or culture. Both sides expressed their rejection of all terrorist acts.
India on its part has addressed issues that concern Saudi Arabia.
The joint statement said the “situation” in Syria and emphasised the importance of preserving the unity of Yemen and achieving its security and stability.
from The Tribune https://ift.tt/2WAaDN2
via Today’s News Headlines
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