Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman departed from Pakistan after a two-day successful visit and is expected to visit India today. During his visit, MBS was welcomed warmly in Pakistan and agreements worth over $20 billion were signed between the two countries. Experts predict that Saudi Arabia will only invest about $1 billion in India.
Saudi Arabia Pledges To Ease Tensions Between India And Pakistan
During his first day in Pakistan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he should be considered Pakistan’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia. The statement was made when Prime Minister Imran Khan asked the crown prince to treat the 2.5 million Pakistani’s living in Saudi Arabia as his own.
Prior to Price Salman’s departure, Prime Minister Imran Khan praised his statement. “I woke up this morning and when I looked at my mobile phone I realized that after your statement last night on saying that you would be Pakistan’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia, I looked at my mobile phone and realized, your highness if your stood for elections in Pakistan you would be able to get more votes than me. You are at the moment extremely popular.”
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Imran Khan had taken to Twitter to also show his appreciation.
Mohammed bin Salman is expected to announce a $1 billion investment in India’s infrastructure and farming sectors during his first visit New Delhi, according to experts said.
India is hoping that MBS will announce an investment in its National Investment infrastructure Fund (NIIF), a sovereign wealth fund that includes private companies and foreign investors. The fund focuses on upgrading India’s infrastructure, including railways and highways.
Riyadh is India’s top energy supplier and home to more than 3.5 million Indian expatriates. Much of bilateral trade between New Delhi and Riyadh has been based on energy, but both countries are now seeking to broaden ties.
The crown prince’s visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after a car bomb killed 44 CRPF personnel in the Kashmir valley. Islamabad has denied India’s claim that it was involved in the attack.
Critics said that since Riyadh is a staunch Pakistan ally, the latest domestic dispute might limit the success of the visit. However, Saudi Arabia has condemned the attack, the worst in decades of turmoil in the disputed region.
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