Saudi prince Mohammed bin Salman extends support to India on countering terrorism

Saudi's Crown Prince Salman who is in India only for about 24 hours is scheduled to next visit China, Malaysia and Indonesia.

File image of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and PM Narendra Modi | Photo: Praveen Jain | ThePrint

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reportedly, broke protocols to personally receive the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman who arrived Tuesday night in New Delhi along with his entourage.

He was given a grand welcome at New Delhi’s Rashtrapati Bhavan where he was also greeted by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The two leaders are expected to hold bilateral talks on a range of areas including cross-border terrorism, defence, security and trade.

Earlier in an interview to state-run media agency Saudi Gazett, PM Modi had shared that the two countries are working towards “establishing India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council which focuses on consolidating bilateral cooperation in specific areas under the Kingdom’s newly constituted Saudi Centre for International Strategic Partnership”.

The de facto leader of the oil-rich Gulf state is in India only for 24 hours and will be leaving the country Wednesday night. He is scheduled to next visit China, Malaysia and Indonesia. Before this he concluded his high-profile visit to Pakistan.

Arrival at Palam

PM Narendra Modi welcomes the Saudi prince on his arrival at the Air Force Station in Palam | The Print photo

Reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Mohammed bin Salman received by President Ram Nath Kovind and PM Modi | Praveen Jain/The Print

Leaders share a joke 

Mohammed bin Salman, President Kovind and PM Modi share a lighter moment | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

Saudi delegates welcomed

Delegates from Saudi Arabia exchange hellos with their Indian counterparts at Rashtrapati Bhavan | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

A hug at Hyderabad House

Mohammed bin Salman and PM Modi share another hug after issuing their joint-statements | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

Guard of honour

Mohammed bin Salman was given the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

Drizzle before the welcome ceremony

Foreign ministry officials clean the red carpet after a short spell of drizzle preceded the arrival of the crown prince | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

After crown prince’s departure

PM Narendra Modi with cabinet minister Ravi Shankar Prasad and Union Minister for Minority Affairs Muktar Abbas Naqvi | Praveen Jain/ThePrint

Agreement to share intelligence

NSA Ajit Doval and foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale in conversation with Saudi’s Prince Turki Bin Mohammed Bin Fahad Bin Abdulaziz at Hyderabad House | Praveen Jain/ThePrint