Engagement with Saudi Arabia not aimed at Pak: Jaswant

By C. Raja Mohan

RIYADH, JAN. 21. India's new engagement with Saudi Arabia is aimed at expanding the bilateral relationship and not directed at Pakistan, the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh asserted today.

Responding to a question at a press conference here on Pakistan's reported concerns about his visit here, Mr. Singh said any such apprehensions ``would be misreading India's intention and belittling the wisdom of the Saudi leadership''. At the end of the first-ever trip by an Indian Foreign Minister to the desert Kingdom, Mr. Singh said, ``my visit to Saudi Arabia stands on its own, and is not directed at any third country''.

Sounding upbeat after his two-days of talks with the Saudi leadership, Mr. Singh said his interaction was a ``forerunner of a new era of bilateral cooperation with Saudi Arabia''. Informed sources in the Indian delegation said the much-delayed engagement with Saudi leadership might have begun to generate a better understanding here of India's security concerns. Mr. Singh was effusive about the warm hospitality extended by the Saudi leadership and said his visit had been ``most productive and rewarding''. A senior official said ``there was not single negative vibration'' in the talks between Mr. Singh and the Saudi leaders. The official Indian assessment is that ``an important first step'' had been taken towards ``a sustained and long-term engagement'' with Saudi Arabia.

Asked if he had urged the Saudi leadership to exercise a moderating influence on Pakistan, Mr. Singh said ``it was not for me to suggest which country plays what role''. The Foreign Minister said he discussed cross-border terrorism and Afghanistan, but did not go into the details of his ``privileged communication'' with the Saudi leaders.

Mr. Singh said India's ties with Israel figured in his conversation and came up in the context of New Delhi using its influence to promote a peace process in the Middle East. He reaffirmed India's commitment to the legitimate rights of the Palestinians.

Both India and Saudi Arabia are convinced that the secuirty of the sub-continent and the Arabian peninsula is interlined and that terrorism and violence are unacceptable. They agreed that peaceful solutions should be found for all outstanding conflicts in the region through dialogue.

In his address later to the local chambers of commerce, Mr. Singh acknowledged ``there is considerable concern in Saudi Arabia about the state of India-Pakistan relations''.

Mr. Singh declared India's readiness to resume the dialogue with Pakistan. But for a meaningful dialogue, he insisted, Pakistan ``must demonstrate its commitment'' to the Shimla and Lahore agreements and ``effectively end its support for cross-border terrorism''.

In his address to the Saudi businessmen, Mr. Singh invited the kingdom ``to join India in a partnership that will take our ancient relationship to new heights where we jointly endeavour to combat extremism, strengthen the regional security system, reconcile differences through dialogue and engagement, and promote bilateral relations''.

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