The day-long visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (MBS) was a damp squib of sorts.
Against the backdrop of the outrageous Pulwama killings and MBS’ state visit to Pakistan, the centuries-old bonhomie was missing even as the two sides went on to sign some key agreements in the field of economy, security and defence.
A warm hug, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s move to break protocol and the musical extravaganza consisting of lag jaa galey from ‘Woh Kaun Thi’ could lift spirits, but what was really disheartening was the absence of any reference to Pakistan in the joint declaration.
The South Block may go on pointing at diplomatic nuances and niceties but politically, this omission will go a long way in influencing public opinion.