NEW DELHI, Jan 25: India and Saudi Arabia signed a clutch of agreements here on Wednesday, including one to combat terrorism, but informed sources said a political dialogue started between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and King Abdullah was the centrepiece of their rare meeting.
The talks are believed to have included a look at India-Pakistan ties, Kashmir, Middle East and the Gulf.
The two leaders held one-to-one talks that lasted close to 45 minutes and promised to continue to work towards a new relationship. The Saudi king is in India as chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations on Thursday.
The monarch’s intention in making India a part of his four-nation first tour of which Pakistan is the last port of call have been spelt out more by Saudi sources than by the hosts, who have largely focussed on terrorism, trade and oil security as the main issues.
“The visit reflects the formulation of a pragmatically mature foreign policy, based on present and probably future geopolitical realities, in the aftermath of the break-up of the Soviet Union,” said Khaled Almaeena, editor in chief of Jeddah-based Arab News, about King Abdullah’s agenda in travelling to China and Malaysia along with his visit to South Asia.
“It is thus of utmost importance that India and Pakistan resolve their differences. A peaceful subcontinent would be a bonanza for everyone,” Mr Almaeena wrote in the Asian Age.
“Pakistan has long been, and will no doubt remain, a key ally of Saudi Arabia. There are historical, social and religious links and connections between the two countries. The kingdom is very sensitive to the contentious issue of Kashmir and its attendant tensions and works for a speedy and satisfactory solution,” he said.
“There have been reservations in the past on the Saudi side about India’s policies in Kashmir and there is a belief in the kingdom that there should be a policy of engagement vis-à-vis India,” Mr. Almaeena said.
“The better and stronger our relations with India, the greater the likelihood of promoting a peaceful dialogue between Delhi and Islamabad. The billion and a half people of the subcontinent deserve a better fate than the omnipresent threat of a mushroom cloud and Saudi Arabia will work ceaselessly to remove such a threat and replace it with genuine security and trust.”
King Abdullah himself had given bold hints about his agenda in choosing to travel to South Asia. In a TV interview with an Indian channel he had last week expressed unequivocal support for an India-Pakistan rapprochement. The King arrived in Delhi after a visit to China to tie up a whole host of agreements in the energy sector. And in New Delhi, the prime minister overlooked protocol to personally greet him. Witnessing the full pomp and honour of a ceremonial welcome, the monarch termed India his second home.
“Relations between India and Saudi Arabia are historic and we have been old friends and God willing, this visit will renew historic ties,” the king said in remarks at a formal arrival ceremony.
After the ceremonies, four memoranda of understanding were signed between the two sides. One was on combating terrorism, which was crucial, as India had found links between the terrorist attack in Bangalore and Lashkar cells in Saudi Arabia.
Another was on avoiding double taxation, which would benefit the 1.5 million Indians working in Saudi Arabia.
