New Delhi: Security and counterterror cooperation between India and Saudi had gotten a boost after then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Saudi Arabia six years ago during which both countries had elevated their ties to the strategic partnership level.
The security cooperation has been improving since then.
Saudi Arabia has close ties with Islamabad and India may raise the issue of Pakistan-based terror groups carrying out attacks against India.
Modi had visited the United Arab Emirates, another close ally of Pakistan, in August and both sides had called on all states to abandon use of terror against other countries in a joint statement that was seen as a message to Islamabad.
Modi is the fourth Indian Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia after Singh in 2010, Indira Gandhi in 1982 and Jawaharlal Nehru in 1956.
His visit here comes amid the current turmoil in the Middle East and the issue is likely to figure prominently in the deliberations he will have with the Saudi leadership.
There are over 2.96 million Indian nationals working in Saudi Arabia, the largest expatriate community in the country, and Modi is expected to raise issues concerning them during his talks with Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
Modi’s engagements include meeting the top CEOs of major Saudi companies, visiting the famous Masmak fort, interaction with the Indian community and a visit to a Tata Consultancy centre which had trained over 1,000 Saudi women.
Saudi Arabia plans to invest $1 trillion (Dh3.67 trillion) in infrastructure development over the next five years and Modi is likely to pitch for participation of Indian companies in the projects.
