New Delhi: Breaking protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, February 19 received Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the airport with a hug, a move that has invited widespread criticism.
His visit comes in the backdrop of the escalating tension between India and Pakistan following the Pulwama terror attack carried out by Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror group in which 40 CRPF jawans were killed.
The Crown Prince arrived in India on a less than 30-hour visit, a day after concluding his high-profile tour of Pakistan where he had pledged investments worth $20 billion.
The $20 billion package for Pakistan, announced two days after the Pulwama terror, was a disappointing development considering India has been looking to isolate Pakistan in the diplomatic community and on the trade front in order to build pressure for it to act against terror outfits such as as the JeM.
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Additionally, in the joint statement issued by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the former went as far as to praise “the achievements and sacrifices” made by Pakistan in the “war against terrorism”, reported The Quint.
In this light, Prime Minister Modi’s over-eager welcome of the Crown Prince has prompted many to comment on the PM’s rhetorical claims of a ‘strong leadership’.
Saudi-Pak statement undermines India's position on terrorism. Not a standalone visit as MBS goes to China next: Pakistan's patron. If this is "triumph for Indian diplomacy",reconfirms Modi govt about PR and not about substance.India's enemies know this and exploit it to the hilt. https://t.co/dJLgLPntVZ
— Rupa Subramanya (@rupasubramanya) February 19, 2019
This photo a day after MBS signed deal worth $20 billion with Pakistan and said he was ‘Pakistan’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia’ and he simply ‘can’t say no to Pakistan.’ I’ve always said Modi simply doesn’t have guts to snub Saudi Crown Prince. 56-inch chest anyone? pic.twitter.com/Uo0O4F3N2g
— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) February 19, 2019
What message was PM Modi sending by receiving at airport and hugging the Saudi Crown Prince who just gave $20 billion to Pakistan & declared UNSC listing of global terrorists need not be politicised by member nations i.e India need not harp on Masood Azhar?
— M K Venu (@mkvenu1) February 19, 2019
Talk to Pakistan. Isn't that what the Crown Prince — being warmly hugged by our PM — had said only a day ago… https://t.co/hJydI8Ly2y
— Harinder Baweja (@shammybaweja) February 19, 2019
With dhol-nagada and a beaming smile @narendramodi dashes to greet the man who just gave 20 billion dollars to the country that killed 40 of our soldiers a few days ago…. https://t.co/ytw8PcKFhQ
— Rohini Singh (@rohini_sgh) February 19, 2019
MBS’s visit also come at a time when there is increasing international pressure of the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a US resident and columnist at the Washington Post, who was a well-known critic of the Saudi regime. He went missing last year on October 2 after he entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to pick divorce papers he needed to marry his fiance. Following international pressure and media attention, Riyadh admitted Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate by a Saudi squad and his body dismembered.
(With PTI inputs)