On Monday, India and Saudi Arabia discussed moving relations to broader horizons and “strengthening international peace and security.”
This came during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in the capital, New Delhi, with Saudi Foreign Minister, Faisal bin Farhan, who is currently visiting India, according to what was reported by the Saudi Press Agency.
“SPA” explained that the meeting “discussed strengthening the relations of the two countries and moving them towards broader horizons in order to achieve the aspirations and hopes of the two friendly peoples for further progress and prosperity.”
The meeting discussed “regional and international issues of common interest and everything that would enhance international peace and security.”
The topics of the meeting were repeated in a previous meeting on Sunday between the Saudi Foreign Minister and his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
India has “concerns”, according to observers, about the rise of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan, especially in light of the movement’s relations with Pakistan, which New Delhi faced in wars over the dispute over Kashmir.
In February 2019, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited India and also discussed strengthening relations and regional issues.
On August 16, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said, “We stand with the Afghan people and the options they decide,” calling on “the Taliban and all Afghan parties to preserve security, stability, lives, and property.”
Saudi Arabia is one of the most prominent countries that provided positions of support to the Afghan movements during the occupation of the Soviet Union decades ago. The Kingdom also recognized, with both Pakistan and the UAE only, the regime established by the Taliban in Afghanistan between 1996 and 2001.
