India
Saudi Arabia has influence over Pakistan and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during two-day visit inked at least seven MoUs and agreement to make investments of worth USD 20 billion
New Delhi: After visiting Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is headed to Indian and he has vowed to try to "de-escalate" tensions between India and Pakistan in the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pulwama by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir met Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday.
Officials said that Qureshi briefed him in detail about the situation after the Pulwama attack in Kashmir.
Tensions have been mounting between the two nuclear-armed neighbours amidst the war of words and diplomatic brinkmanship over the attack.
"Our objective is to try to de-escalate tensions between the two countries, neighbouring countries, and to see if there is a path forward to resolving those differences peacefully," Jubeir told the media.
He also said both countries were facing similar challenges, including the scourge of terrorism.
"We want both countries to resolve their conflicts and have peaceful relations," he said.
The terror attack happened when a suicide bomber blew up an explosive-laden vehicle near a convoy of CRPF buses in Pulwama district on Thursday, killing at least 40 CRPF soldiers.
Saudi Arabia has influence over Pakistan and the Crown Prince during two-day visit inked at least seven MoUs and agreement to make investments of worth USD 20 billion.
The Kingdom also provided USD 3 billion loan and another USD 3 billion oil facility on deferred payment during the past three months.
The crown prince also said Pakistan has the potential to become one of the top 20 economies of the world.
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan also told the visiting dignitary, according to reports, "We want you to consider Pakistan your second home. The PM House, where you were staying, rest assured that when you are in Pakistan ... (you can) consider it your own house and come and stay there.”
Prince Salman responded by saying that he also feels "at home in Pakistan".
Meanwhile, four more Army men were martyred on Monday while trying to gun down Pulwama handler and Kamran during the Pinglan encounter in Jammu and Kashmir.
Pakistani national Kamran had joined JeM in 2008 and was responsible for recruitment and training in the Valley and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). The 32-year-old was trained by the Taliban in Afghanistan who then returned from Pakistan’s North Waziristan in 2010.
With inputs from PTI
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