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PRINCE VISIT Joint statement stresses on need to create atmosphere for India-pak dialogue
NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday condemned the Pulwama suicide attack but refrained from naming Pakistan for backing anti-india terror in a joint statement, which spoke in generic terms of the need for dismantling terrorist infrastructure and countering terror financing, while announcing investments potentially worth more than $100 billion.
The statement, issued almost nine hours after the end of formal talks between Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, called on “all countries to renounce the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy”. It made no mention of Pakistan’s role in this regard – something India has been pushing for with its key allies after the February 14 attack by the Jaish-e-mohammed (JEM) that killed 40 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troopers.
Against the backdrop of a fresh effort to sanction JEM chief Masood Azhar at the United Nations, the statement emphasised the “importance of comprehensive sanctioning of terrorists and their organisations by the UN”. People familiar with developments said this helped address apprehensions created by a reference to the “politicisation” of the UN listing system in the Saudipakistan joint statement earlier this week during the prince’s visit to Islamabad.
The Saudi prince appreciated “consistent efforts” by Modi since May 2014, including his personal
initiatives, for friendly relations with Pakistan. The two sides agreed on the “creation of conditions necessary for resumption of the comprehensive dialogue between India and Pakistan”, the statement said. Modi and the prince “condemned in the strongest
terms” the Pulwama attack and called on “all states to reject the use of terrorism against other countries; dismantle terrorism infrastructures... and to cut off any kind of support and financing to the terrorists perpetrating terrorism from all territories
against other states; and bring perpetrators of acts of terrorism to justice,” it added. India rolled out the red carpet for the Saudi prince, who was received at Palam airport on Tuesday night by Modi with a warm hug. WASHINGTON: US president Donald Trump on Tuesday called the terrorist attack in Pulwama a “horrible situation” and his administration called on Pakistan to “fully cooperate” with the investigations and “freeze without delay” finances of all UN listed terrorist entities that include Jaish-e-mohammad (JEM).
“It would be wonderful if they got along,” the American president said to reporters at a White House event in response to a question referring to India and Pakistan, though he did not name them.
“It seems like that was a horrible situation,” he added, promising a statement later.
The White House and the US state department have both already condemned the attack, and called for Pakistan, underscoring once again its culpability, to “end immediately the support and safe haven provided to all terrorist groups operating on its soil, whose only goal is to sow chaos, violence, and terror in the region”.
On Tuesday, US state department spokesperson Robert Palladino renewed those calls.