Pakistan Tensions Mar Saudi Prince's Visit to India
NEW DELHI (AFP) -- Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday, with his business mission under threat of being overshadowed by soaring tensions between India and Pakistan.
The crown prince, who wants to persuade the world's fastest growing major economy to consume more Saudi oil, was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave his traditional bear hug for honored guests.
The prince arrived from a two-day stay in Pakistan as it clashed with its giant neighbor over responsibility for a suicide attack in Kashmir last Thursday that left at least 40 members of Indian security forces dead.
The attack was claimed by Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and has sparked calls in India for a firm response.
The latest showdown between the nuclear-armed neighbors, which is causing mounting international concern, was expected to figure prominently in Prince Mohamed's talks with Modi on Wednesday.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan offered Tuesday to investigate the attack if India provided proof of its involvement -- but said his country would retaliate if attacked.
India rebuffed Khan's comments and called in turn for "credible and visible action" to rein in militants.
Washington threw its weight behind India Tuesday, pressing Pakistan to punish those behind the Kashmir attack.
Before the attack, the agenda for the crown prince's visit had been dominated by oil and other key investment decisions.
Saudi Arabia currently supplies about 20 percent of India's crude oil and wants to definitively push aside arch-rival Iran as a source.
Iran at one stage last year overtook Saudi Arabia among India's suppliers but U.S. sanctions since have severely hit the Islamic Republic's oil business.
Kabir Taneja, associate fellow with Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank, said India would aim to use these closer economic ties to push for Saudi Arabia's "unconditional support" regarding Pakistan.
The crown prince is on a three-country Asian tour as the kingdom seeks to recover its reputation after last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Prince Mohammed was to leave India late Wednesday and is expected to spend two days in China.
Analysts have said the tour is part of a pivot to rising Asia as a growing oil market and a retort to the West where the crown prince has faced harsh criticism over the Khashoggi affair.
The crown prince, who wants to persuade the world's fastest growing major economy to consume more Saudi oil, was greeted at the airport by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who gave his traditional bear hug for honored guests.
The prince arrived from a two-day stay in Pakistan as it clashed with its giant neighbor over responsibility for a suicide attack in Kashmir last Thursday that left at least 40 members of Indian security forces dead.
The attack was claimed by Pakistan-based group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and has sparked calls in India for a firm response.
The latest showdown between the nuclear-armed neighbors, which is causing mounting international concern, was expected to figure prominently in Prince Mohamed's talks with Modi on Wednesday.
Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan offered Tuesday to investigate the attack if India provided proof of its involvement -- but said his country would retaliate if attacked.
India rebuffed Khan's comments and called in turn for "credible and visible action" to rein in militants.
Washington threw its weight behind India Tuesday, pressing Pakistan to punish those behind the Kashmir attack.
Before the attack, the agenda for the crown prince's visit had been dominated by oil and other key investment decisions.
Saudi Arabia currently supplies about 20 percent of India's crude oil and wants to definitively push aside arch-rival Iran as a source.
Iran at one stage last year overtook Saudi Arabia among India's suppliers but U.S. sanctions since have severely hit the Islamic Republic's oil business.
Kabir Taneja, associate fellow with Observer Research Foundation, a New Delhi-based think tank, said India would aim to use these closer economic ties to push for Saudi Arabia's "unconditional support" regarding Pakistan.
The crown prince is on a three-country Asian tour as the kingdom seeks to recover its reputation after last year's murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Prince Mohammed was to leave India late Wednesday and is expected to spend two days in China.
Analysts have said the tour is part of a pivot to rising Asia as a growing oil market and a retort to the West where the crown prince has faced harsh criticism over the Khashoggi affair.