India, Saudi Arabia agree to work for irreversible, credible steps against terrorists

India and Saudi Arabia on Monday agreed to take "irreversible, verifiable and credible" steps against all terrorists without any discrimination, in an apparent message to Pakistan, which has been linked by New Delhi with last month's Pulwama terror attack. The development came during the visit of Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al Jubeir to New Delhi, as a follow up of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's India visit last month.

Al Jubeir met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in his over four-hour working visit. He conveyed the greetings of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and the Crown Prince to Prime Minister Modi.

Modi thanked the Saudi Arabian leadership for expressing solidarity with India's fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The Saudi minister also briefed the Prime Minister on the follow up of the outcomes of the historical visit of the Crown Prince.

Both the countries have taken significant steps to boost trade and investment and to achieve $100 billion investment from Saudi Arabia into India, which was announced during the visit of the Crown Prince.

During his meeting with Sushma Swaraj, the third between the two leaders in about a fortnight, Al Jubeir took note of the "significant developments" after the visit of the Crown Prince.

She reiterated that "immediate irreversible and verifiable action" was essential to to dismantle terror infrastructure.

"It was agreed that Saudi Arabia and India should work together for irreversible, verifiable and credible steps against all terrorists without any discrimination," an official release said.

India and Saudi Arabia have close and multifaceted relations underpinned by historic, cultural, religious and economic linkages which have been elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two countries have agreed to set up the Strategic Partnership Council at the earliest.

Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner and second largest supplier crude oil to the country.

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