Saudi Crown Prince does not make any mention of Pulwama terror attack in joint statement

Thanking India for playing a positive role, MBS said, “Terrorism and extremism are a common concern. We will cooperate with India in every way, like intelligence sharing.”

PM Narendra Modi and the Crown Prince of #SaudiArabia, Mohammed bin Salman during the joint press meet at Hyderabad House, New Delhi on Wednesday. PIC/PIB(Twitter)

NEW DELHI:  Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) held talks here and confirmed the signing of five Memorandum of Understanding agreements, including infrastructure, housing, cooperation on broadcasting and the enhancing bilateral investment relations. The talks were held in the backdrop of India straining its ties with Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack. In a joint press statement, PM Narendra Modi said, “We have also agreed that counter-terrorism, and strong bilateral cooperation in areas such as maritime security and cyber security will be beneficial for both countries.” Invoking the heinous terror attack in Pulwama in his speech, the "barbaric terror attack is a cruel symbol of the scourge spread over the world by this anti-humanitarian danger." "In order to deal effectively with this threat, we agree that there is a need to increase all possible pressure on the countries supporting terrorism in any manner," Modi said, without naming Pakistan. Thanking India for playing a positive role, MBS said, “Terrorism and extremism are a common concern. We will cooperate with India in every way, like intelligence sharing.”

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman: Extremism & terrorism are our common concerns.We would like to tell our friend India that we'll cooperate on all fronts, be it intelligence sharing. We'll work with everyone to ensure a brighter future for our upcoming generations (ANI) pic.twitter.com/lmTJIgYuOs

— ABP News (@abpnewstv) February 20, 2019

The crown prince, however,  did not make any mention of Pulwama attack in his statement. Meanwhile, the Congress chided Prime Minister Narendra Modi for breaking protocol to personally welcome Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) to India who “pledged $20 billion to Pakistan.” Prince Mohammed, who came to India a day after his visit to Pakistan, was received Modi with a warm hug. The Crown Prince had flown back to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan before coming to India. He visited Pakistan days after a Jaish-e-Mohammed suicide bomber attacked a CRPF convoy on February 14, killing 40 soldiers. On Tuesday  Pakistan PM Imran Khan assured India that he would act against the perpetrators of the deadly Pulwama terror attack if it shares "actionable intelligence" with Islamabad, but warned New Delhi against launching any "revenge" retaliatory action. India also maintained a studied silence on the Saudi-Pakistan joint statement that has Saudi Arabia lauding Pakistan’s “achievements and sacrifices” in the war against terrorism, and a call for avoiding the politicisation of the UN listing regime.