Looking on the Islamic world for support against Pakistan in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks, India will ask Saudi Arabia to put pressure on Pakistan, when Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal calls on the Capital.
During the Saudi minister?s day-long visit Friday, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee will share information that establishes a clear link between Pakistan-based elements and the Mumbai terror attacks.
According to sources, Mukherjee is expected to cite transformed ties between India and Saudi Arabia following King Abdullah?s visit to New Delhi in 2006 and ask for Riyadh?s support in putting pressure on Islamabad to take concrete action against anti-India terror outfits in that country.
Also, New Delhi will seek Riyadh?s support in clamping down on the financing of terrorists some of whom use Saudi charities and other fronts for generating funds for subversive activities. The issue will figure in the discussions between the two ministers, the sources said.
With Pakistan stepping up its propaganda offensive against India in the Muslim world, India is likely to draw attention to reports in sections of Saudi media that have been critical of New Delhi but sympathetic to Islamabad, said sources.
Early next year, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to go to Saudi Arabia. It may be recalled that he was set to go to Riyadh in November, but had to defer his plan due to prior commitments of the Saudi king.
Saudi Arabia, the Arab world?s most influential country that enjoys close links with Washington, has been a key ally of Pakistan in the Muslim world. India and Saudi Arabia signed an all-encompassing Delhi Declaration in 2006 and inked a pact on combating terrorism.
This will be the third visit from a Muslim country since the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks.
The Oman ambassador to India Humaid Al Maani, told FE, that ?Oman was the first country from the Gulf region who sent their foreign minister Yusuf Bin Alawai to visit India and offer all its support in tracking down the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks.?
Iran?s deputy foreign minister Mohammad Mehdi Akhondzadeh also met Mukherjee last week and asked Pakistan to intensify its efforts to crack down on terror outfits.
Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti government renewed a call on the international community to seek global solidarity in the fight against all forms of terrorism, affirming Kuwait?s support for any effort that may contribute in facing and eliminating this menace.
