Saudi Crown Prince's India visit: Terrorism hogs joint statement; Saudi Arabia will share intelligence, says Mohammed bin Salman

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Wednesday said his country would share intelligence with India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of terrorism in a joint statement.  "Extremism and 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," the Crown Prince said. Mohammed bin Salman's visit to India has been shadowed by the Pulwama terror attack that forced him to return to his home country, instead of directly coming to India from Pakistan. India has blamed the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI and terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad for the attack in Pulwama that killed 40 Indian soldiers.

In the joint statement, PM Modi, without naming Pakistan, said India and Saudi Arabia had agreed there was a need to increase pressure on the countries which support terrorism. The Prime Minister started the joint statement acknowledging the strategic nature of the ties with Saudi Arabia and welcomed the Saudi investment in the country. "India Saudi Arabia is one of India's most valuable strategic partners. Our relations have grown stronger. I welcome Saudi investment in Indian infrastructure," he said.

Catch all the latest updates on BusinessToday.In's live blog on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

2.03pm: "Extremism and 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," says the crown prince, reported ANI.

Saudi Arabia 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. pic.twitter.com/io5oIvFzTX

- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019

Terrorism is our common concern and we assure you that we will cooperate with you: Saudi Crown Prince #MohammedBinSalman @IndembAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/3BvyYMWn9d

- Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) February 20, 2019

2.02pm: The Saudi Crown Prince says Saudi has invested $44 billion in India; says "Saudi people have invested heavily in India's IT industry".

2.00pm: "We welcome Saudi Arabia joining the International Solar Alliance," says PM Modi.

1.58pm: PM Modi on Pulwama attack: "Pulwama attack is a sign of the terror on the world. There is a need to increase pressure of nations supporting terror. Terror infrastructure has to be destroyed and culprits have to be brought justice. I'm happy that Saudi and we agree," says PM Modi.

PM Modi: Pulwama mein hua barbar hamla duniya par chhai khatre ki nishani hai, hum is baat par sahmat hain ki atankwaad ko samarthan dene waale deshon pe sambhav dabav banane ki avyashkata hai #IndiaSaudiArabia pic.twitter.com/MmSprEgg1J

- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019

1.54pm: PM Modi says over 2.7 million Indians living in Saudi Arabia peacefully.

1.53pm: "Saudi Arabia is one of India's most valuable strategic partners. Our relations have grown stronger. I welcome Saudi investment in Indian infrastructure," says PM Modi.

1.46pm: India and Saudi Arabia's friendly relations dates back to hundreds of years, says PM Modi.

Addressing the media after talks with HRH Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. https://t.co/H2tBemYuy7

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 20, 2019

1.45pm: PM Modi addressing the media after talks with MBS.

1.45pm: Initial visuals of the delegation level talks between India and Saudi Arab.

Delhi: Earlier visuals of delegation level talks between India and Saudi Arabia pic.twitter.com/AwPn1lxdp5

- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019

12.42pm: The Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala says PM Modi gave a "grand welcome to those who pledged $20 billion to Pak & praised Pak's 'anti-terror' efforts".

National Interests

V/S

Modiji's 'hugplomacy'

Breaking protocol, Grand welcome to those who pledged $20 Billion to Pak & praised Pak's 'anti-terror' efforts.

Is it ur way of remembering martyrs of Pulwama?

1/2 pic.twitter.com/81LIwYuo1b

- Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) February 20, 2019

12.23am: PM Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman hold bilateral meeting in Delhi.

PM @narendramodi and Saudi Crown Prince #MohammedBinSalman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud hold bilateral meeting in Delhi @IndembAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/TVWNZXCuTo

- Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) February 20, 2019

12.00am: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj calls on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Delhi on Wednesday.

EAM @SushmaSwaraj calls on Saudi Crown Prince #MohammedBinSalman in Delhi pic.twitter.com/5kmT2NlGYE

- Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) February 20, 2019

11.20am: The relationship between India and Arabian peninsula is in our DNA. "Indian people are part of building Saudi Arabia," says Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Relationship between India and Arabian peninsula is in our DNA; Indian people are part of building Saudi Arabia: Saudi Crown Prince #MohammadBinSalman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud @IndembAbuDhabi pic.twitter.com/3BhJSq2Vvv

- Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) February 20, 2019

10.29am: The Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at Rashtrapati Bhawan: "...I am sure we can create good things for Saudi Arabia and 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

10.19am: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman accorded with Ceremonial Reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Visiting Saudi Crown Prince #MohammadBinSalman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud accorded with Ceremonial Reception at @rashtrapatibhvn

WATCH LIVE: https://t.co/9dkdD2j0oz pic.twitter.com/SYPTDjhCZr

- Doordarshan News (@DDNewsLive) February 20, 2019

Delhi: Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman receives a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/dLJZXQdWSo

- ANI (@ANI) February 20, 2019

10.17am: While counter-terrorism is expected to feature largely during the upcoming talks, India and Saudi Arabia are also likely to sign five agreements in areas of investment, tourism, housing and information and broadcasting. Read more here.

10.13am: Recently, Saudi ARAMCO in partnership with ADNOC of UAE, has agreed to partner in Ratnagiri Refinery and Petro-Chemical project Ltd which is a joint venture of $44 billion.

9.45am: Around 20 per cent of India's oil is imported from Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, being one of the largest producers of oil in the world, definitely sees this as an opportunity with India being a massive consumer of oil. Read more here.

9.36am: In a joint statement, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Monday called for avoiding "politicisation" of the UN listing regime at a time when India was stepping up efforts to brand the JeM terror group's chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist.

9.32am: PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince will hold extensive talks during which India will raise the issue of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

9.00am: Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar termed the visit of the Saudi crown prince "a new chapter in bilateral relations" between India and Saudi Arabia.

8.40am: In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received the crown prince at the airport.

India is delighted to welcome HRH Mohammed Bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. pic.twitter.com/wBK1F1UZAA

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 19, 2019

8.30am: Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is also the Gulf nation's defence minister. His visit to India follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's highly-successful April 2016 trip to Saudi Arabia, during which the two sides had agreed to further elevate their existing strategic partnership.

Edited by Manoj Sharma