National Security Advisor Ajit Doval paid a two-day quiet visit to Saudi Arabia during which he apprised Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir after the State’s special status was withdrawn, official sources said on Wednesday.
The Saudi side conveyed to Mr. Doval that it was aware of New Delhi’s long-held position on Kashmir, and emphasised on de-escalation of tension between India and Pakistan, they said.
The NSA arrived in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. Mr. Doval and Mr. Salman also discussed a range of bilateral and regional issues, including the missile and drone attacks on Saudi oil facilities last month, and ways to deepen anti-terror cooperation.
Saudi Arabia is a key pillar of India’s energy security, being a source of 17% or more of crude oil and 32% of LPG requirements.
Notwithstanding the biggest ever attack on its oil facilities on September 14 that knocked out half of its daily oil production, Saudi Arabia assured India that it was committed to meet the country’s energy security needs. Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir and UAE Foreign Minister Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited Islamabad last month in the midst of escalating tension on Kashmir.
India also launched a diplomatic outreach to apprise major countries of its decisions on Jammu and Kashmir. Saudi Arabia, known to be a key ally of Pakistan, has been siding with India in its campaign to rid the region of terrorism and pledged to extend all cooperation to effectively deal with the challenge.
