The world has its eyes on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman as he landed in India on Tuesday, 19 February, after a high-profile maiden visit to Pakistan. The visit has become strategically and diplomatically significant in the backdrop of the Pulwama attack that left 40 CRPF jawans dead on 14 February, escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.
However, the Crown Prince’s bonhomie with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan hasn’t gone down well with many experts and strategists in Indian circles.
Pakistan on Monday conferred its highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Pakistan, on the Crown Prince for his "outstanding support" in reinvigorating the ties between the two countries. The Prince also announced a $20 billion investment in Pakistan by Saudi Arabia to help ease its debt crisis.
In a joint statement issued by the two countries, Saudi Arabia “praised the openness and efforts of Prime Minister Imran Khan for dialogue with India.”
Suhasini Haider, Diplomatic Affairs Editor for The Hindu, said that the joint statement undermines India’s position on terrorism.
Economist Rupa Subramanya and journalist Kanchan Gupta espoused similar opinions.
Maneesh Chhiber, Investigations and Special Projects editor for The Print, said that India shouldn’t expect much from the Prince’s visit, especially after the joint statement with Pakistan.
Nayanima Basu, Diplomatic and Strategic Affairs Editor for The Print, said that Saudi Arabia had never vetoed India’s proposal to enlist Masood Azhar as a global terrorist in the first place.
Former diplomat MK Bhadrakumar took a jibe at the statement which praises Pakistan for “fighting terrorism.”
Kabir Taneja, while writing for the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) said, “The joint statement released by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, however, was problematic, and stands contrary to India’s stance on Pakistan’s policy of using terror as a state policy,” adding that “the statement (is) virtually walking over India’s approach for the United Nations and the international community to come down on Pakistan for supporting and nurturing groups designated and listed as terror organisations.”
On Monday, 18 February, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia expressed their desire to further promote and deepen their bilateral ties.
"I was honoured to meet the president of Pakistan. I thank you for honouring me with Pakistan's highest award," prince Salman said in his address.
"The brotherly relationship between the kingdom and Pakistan focus on the principle of Islamic solidarity. It is a model to be emulated by other nations. Our (countries' relations) go back 67 years that witnessed continuous development that rendered itself beneficial for both countries.
"The founding fathers for both countries established these relations on the principles of truthfulness, common understanding and mutual respect that go back to the first days of the establishment of Pakistan, post-World War II," he said.
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