PM Narendra Modi, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman hold talks to expand ties

The Modi government is likely to raise the issue of terrorism in wake of the recently executed Pulwama terror attack which left over 40 of CRPF personnel succumbing to injuries.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) shakes hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman/ AFP IMAGE

New Delhi: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in the presence of President Ram Nath Kovind ahead of his delegation-level meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday. The bilateral talks between India and the Gulf nation is seen by strategic affair experts  as a move to bolster the existing diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. The Modi government is likely to raise the issue of terrorism in wake of the recently executed Pulwama terror attack which left over 40 of CRPF personnel succumbing to injuries. Addressing the media after his ceremonial welcome, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Rashtrapati Bhawan said that  today we want to be sure that this relation is maintained and improved for the sake of both countries. With the leadership of the President and  PM Modi, I am sure we can create good things for Saudi Arabia & India.

Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Delhi: Today we want to be sure that this relation is maintained&improved for the sake of both countries. With the leadership of the President&the PM, I am sure we can create good things for Saudi Arabia & India pic.twitter.com/mXSTSBjxQS

— ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol to personally receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Salman is on his first state visit to India. A day after his visit to Pakistan, Prince Mohammed came to India. He was received by PM Modi with a warm hug. The Crown Prince had flown back to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan before coming to India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the first state visit of the Crown Prince marks a new chapter in bilateral relations. "A new chapter in bilateral relations Breaking protocol, PM Narendra Modi personally receives HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia as he arrives on his first bilateral visit to India!," he said in a tweet. During the two-day visit, India and Saudi Arabia are expected to announce a ministerial-level 'Strategic Partnership Council' with the issue of terrorism expected to figure in a major way during the talks in the aftermath of Pulwama terror attack. He is accompanied by a high-level official delegation as well as a large business delegation. (With IANS inputs)