Modi to visit Saudi Arabia on invitation of King Salman
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MUMBAI: Indian prime minister Narendra Modi announced Monday that he will be visiting Saudi Arabia between April 2 and April 3 on the invitation of King Salman.
The Indian premier announced the decision on his official Facebook page, adding that he plans to work with the Saudi leadership to 'expand and deepen our bilateral relations'.
Modi maintained that one of the key objectives of his visit will be to convince prominent Saudi businesses to partner with India’s development priorities.
"Our economic ties are expanding. Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trading partner, and is also India’s largest crude oil supplier," read the statement.
Related: India seeks more Saudi oil
It must be noted that on the death of Salman's predecessor, King Abdullah last year, India sent its Vice President Hamid Ansari to Riyadh to pay respects.
In addition, the Indian government had announced a day of mourning on January 24, 2015 for the “close ally and friend” of the country.
In 2006, when King Abdullah visited India as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, the trip was hailed as a milestone. The first visit by a Saudi king to India in 51 years, it saw the signing of the “Delhi Declaration” forging a strategic energy partnership between the two nations.
Saudi Arabia is still India’s biggest provider of crude oil.
Also Read: Why India went a step beyond others to mourn the Saudi king’s death
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (122) Closed
Mar 29, 2016 02:03pm
all world countries are inviting and having good relations with india.achievment of modiji we come to know from you tube ptv, which even we were not knowing. thanks ptv for showing good picture of our country.
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Mar 29, 2016 02:07pm
Way to go beloved PM. You are a friend of KSA,IRAN,ISRAEL and all others . Show what Indians are made up of. Love you
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Mar 29, 2016 02:11pm
It is Pakistan's desire to encourage positive engagement with every country... Be it an ally like China or an adversary like India...
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Mar 29, 2016 02:11pm
Saudi Arabia u going to get Muslims in big trouble one day u making Muslim countries weaker and none Muslim countries richer
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Mar 29, 2016 02:13pm
Great Job India. Modi leading India by example. Indeed a trend setter and an eye opener for Pak leadership.
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Mar 29, 2016 02:31pm
After UAE it is the time of Saudi Arabia to invest in this great fastest growing economy of the world.It would definitely be a trade deals of billions of dollara as we Indians in general & our prime minister Modiji in particular believes in growth, industry, employment & avoids traditional visits those have only face to face smile.
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Mar 29, 2016 02:33pm
Great work by Modi in international diplomacy... BTW, he is going to visit Brussels as well..
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Mar 29, 2016 02:57pm
Like a good business man Modi is going to Saudi Arabia then to Brussels and later to Israel. India has its priorities.... set up a favorable business environment a stable government and some marketing blitz and the rest will fall in place.M0di will also come to Pakistan if he finds a business opportunity. These days only the economic might of a country is taken notice nothing else.
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Mar 29, 2016 03:08pm
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) with US$ 15.5 billion revenue runs women only IT and ITES center in Riyadh.
Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an Indian engineering giant has huge construction activities going in the Saudi Arabia.
This is how you build the bridges across the World. Way to Modiji.
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Mar 29, 2016 03:09pm
This is reaction of Iranian President's visit to Pakistan.
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Mar 29, 2016 03:14pm
@Ali jee
no one is stopping muslims countries from progress
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Mar 29, 2016 03:19pm
@Recall i think you did not read the article...Modi was INVITED by the King himself...this is no tit-for-tat game
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Mar 29, 2016 03:32pm
@Nikesh yes modi was invited by SA because rouhani was invited by Pakistan its a countermove by Saudi against Pakistan
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Mar 29, 2016 03:32pm
Hail Modi friends of all best pm ever
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Mar 29, 2016 03:35pm
Is this saudi Arabias rebuke to Pakistan when they hosted Iranian PM recently?
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Mar 29, 2016 03:38pm
saudi arabia controls all the oil rich gulf countries and give millions of jobs to pakistanis in gulf which is beyond the iran resources,its not about sunni or shia, we are a nation state ,but it this point of time ,we need to have best relations with saudi arabia,they just want ally to show his rivalries and as we refused they immediately picked up egyption and gave them 20 billion dollars ,the entire state bank foreign exchange reserves.
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Mar 29, 2016 03:42pm
Indians will talk to the Russians, Americans, Chinese, Saudis, Iranians and everyone else who is serious about doing business with India.
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Mar 29, 2016 03:43pm
ksa you add india in your coallition 34 contrys+india
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Mar 29, 2016 03:44pm
Shows what difference it makes to have a proactive PM. Good job Mr.Modi!! Respect!!
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Mar 29, 2016 03:52pm
Thinks about yours self 1st then think for others & if u are in position lend hands to others but don't expect anything from them. Successful will be yours.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:01pm
@Vibrant Pakistan Will you please clarify properly?
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Mar 29, 2016 04:01pm
@Recall India did business with Iran even when the US imposed trade sanctions and was the last country to stop doing business with Iran. Saudi then managed to replace Iran as principal oil supplier to India but the Saudis would be more worried if India cuts back on its oil purchases.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:06pm
And yet Pakistan leads the 34 nation Muslim coalition, including Saudi forces.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:14pm
I bet King Salman wants to sign long-term oil contracts to counter Iran's burgeoning trade ties with India.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:15pm
Start your analysis by looking President Modi's personnel assets. That will tell you who that person is. He is not ripping off India. He is building it. While our leaders the equation is working opposite.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:16pm
One thing Saudi rulers should do is to tell India to respect Muslims living in India and to hold Kashmir plebiscite. KSA is in position to do this easily without costing an money.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:23pm
@Bilal this is not like inviting your neighbour for dinner...this is a diplomacy at the highest level where things keep on moving for months/years before getting finalized...do you seriously believe that this is SA counter-move??? well good luck with that, it's not going to harm India anyway...
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Mar 29, 2016 04:24pm
Modi is a clever political strategist.. Everyone knows about it..
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Mar 29, 2016 04:27pm
@aslam shaikh : Who said India doesn't respect Muslims? Do you know Late Mr. Abdul Kalam was a President of India. More muslims are staying in India than Pakistan..
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Mar 29, 2016 04:28pm
Our government must learn from it and enhance ties with Iran.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:31pm
New Iron brothers..
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Mar 29, 2016 04:41pm
@aslam shaikh India doesn't interfere in Saudis internal affairs so why should Saudi interfere in Indias internal affairs? Besides, India doesn't take dictation from anyone.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:42pm
On one side India is funding IRAN for Chabahar port, so to enable trade with Central Asia, and on the other side visiting SAUDI's for strengthening the ties.
So, playing a great deal of diplomacy.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:49pm
@Bilal . Iranian leaders have visited India and India was the one of the few countries which have had genuine good relations with everyone in ME. The relationship was built on trust and the work ethics of most of the Indians who have impressed the hosts and contributed to the development. Please check how many Indians have been beheaded in KSA compared to Pakistani citizens.
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Mar 29, 2016 04:53pm
Modi making India proud! India is a powerhouse that has the economic clout!
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Mar 29, 2016 05:10pm
Let's wish them good luck
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Mar 29, 2016 05:10pm
@Bilal Modi will be going to Iran and Israel soon
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Mar 29, 2016 05:14pm
@Sachin We love Salman Aamir and Shahrukh , They are the biggest just after Mr Bacchan .
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Mar 29, 2016 05:14pm
their inclination to save their kingship is the soul of their work, they don't care otherwise.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:18pm
Hence it is proved that we should also be good friends with Israel, USA and the West.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:22pm
Saudi goverment is frustrated by the visit of Hassan Rouhani President of Iran to Pakistan. Looks Saudis are in search of new allies in South Asia. well better luck with that. Iran is our natural ally due to border common border.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:27pm
Modi going to KSA does not mean that India Severs its ties with Iran. That's the beauty of Indian diplomacy. Ties with Iran are strategic and these are bound to get stronger and stronger irrespective of ties with other countries.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:36pm
@Sachin what about the millions living as a class citizens and the events happening in Gujrat.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:44pm
India has deep and strong relations with Iran they are not going to compromise it with their budding relations with Saudi Arab.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:45pm
Pakistan should have normal ties with Israel.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:46pm
With China signing a long term contract for purchase of Oil from Russia, Saudi Arabia will definitely woo India which is its second larges customer. Saudi Arabia well knows that Modi is a pro business PM with whom business can be done. It is currently having a troubled relationship with its close ally US and wants to use some of its FE reserves to invest in India. Business is business and no one wants to lose an opportunity to invest in the worlds fastest growing economy.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:48pm
@ASIF The same way should be Afghanistan for shared border.
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Mar 29, 2016 05:52pm
@aslam shaikh Brother no one is in the position to dictate India
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Mar 29, 2016 05:55pm
KSA to be aware that Indian State promote terrorism as Pakistan has just captured an on duty Naval Officer in disguise of trader. Their handlers; the RAW, has done necessary homework on him by showing him a Muslim.
Be ware,
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Mar 29, 2016 05:59pm
unfortunately very bad decision by KSA as they will not be standing with then when needed in fact would be on opposite side however will suck all the resources from KSA.
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Mar 29, 2016 06:14pm
@Ahmed USA Why is India an adversary?
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Mar 29, 2016 06:41pm
@True Kasmiri KSA can dictate since India is dependent on the money sent back by millions and the Oil deals it is seeks.
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Mar 29, 2016 06:44pm
@timetostopthis then what if millions working in KSA are sent back and no Oil deals!
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Mar 29, 2016 06:45pm
Pakistan should also focus on building relations with countries other than Saudia and UAE as per the requirements of globalization. Focus needs to shift from fighting proxy wars to poverty alleviation.
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Mar 29, 2016 06:49pm
There is no such thing as unconditional friendship in politics. A strong, booming economy says a lot more about your standing in the world than empty slogans of "Muslim brotherhood" and "Ummah". Pakistan, take note.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:02pm
Nice to see Indians getting so honoured and excited by just a summoning of Modi by the King of Saudi.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:03pm
That is the magnetic power of India.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:13pm
And the Indians showup with praises of Modi this Modi that.
Just a state visit. Nawaz Sharif makes more visit than Modi but gets a lot of criticism for it.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:14pm
India has second largest Muslim Population and they are progressive, so KSA will definitely Give Importance to India and her PM.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:15pm
For Saudi students
http://m.timesofindia.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-University-gets-invited-to-UAE-and-Dubai-to-set-up-campuses/articleshow/51590775.cms?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=TOI%3F
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Mar 29, 2016 07:19pm
Times are changing, friends. When we are hyping on CPEC with an investment of 45 billion dollars in 15 years, india silently green signalled for an investment of 75 billion dollars investment from U.A.E for their infrastructure developments Why UAE is not investing in our country?
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Mar 29, 2016 07:34pm
Modi want cheap petrol.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:46pm
@Ali jee .. 100% agreed- Indians and India is enjoying more from the wealth of Saudia and Arab countries then Muslim countries. Saudi FM said Indians are great and most peaceful people in Kingdom.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:46pm
@shuaib people of this country have seen respect given by world community to shri pm modiji.
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Mar 29, 2016 07:56pm
@Amir India buy large chunk of Saudi oil and they wont let this buyer get away in this crunch time.
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Mar 29, 2016 08:39pm
@Ahmed USA
Desire & Reality are two different issues. Desires need to be converted to reality of harmonious relations.
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Mar 29, 2016 08:58pm
@timetostopthis Pakistanis only want to talk about kashmir and nothing else. Its time to change the way you people think...
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Mar 29, 2016 09:04pm
@Zak If you travel on a invitation once a year... its is called invitation.
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Mar 29, 2016 09:09pm
India leads!! Currently India is the only growing economy. Saudi will invite us 100 times.
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Mar 29, 2016 09:25pm
@sureshmishra1174 : Why the change should not come from you people?
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Mar 29, 2016 09:33pm
@Recall. NO, Indo-Iran friendship is well established. During the sanctions against Iran, India continued to buy oil from Iran. In fact, Iran was the biggest supplier of oil to India. Indo-KSA relations are low key but firmly based on the interests of both countries.
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Mar 29, 2016 09:45pm
@aslam shaikh
Who is going to drill the oil for Saudis if those millions are sent back home and who is going to buy Saudi Oil if India does not? India is a PAYING customer of Saudi Oil and in Business, Customer is KING.
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Mar 29, 2016 10:00pm
I guess Rouhani's Islamabad visit rang some bells in Riyadh and New Delhi
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Mar 29, 2016 10:01pm
Petrodollars for Indian infrastructure development,please, Narendra Modi?:):)
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Mar 29, 2016 10:15pm
Billions of dollars from India go to S Arabia to pay for crude oil.
Billions of dollars are sent by expatriates to India.
Billions upon billions of surplus petrodollars need to be invested in good, paying investments.
And, hope those dollars flow in India for infrastructure investments?:)
Hope this is another successful business visit by Narendra Modi?:)
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Mar 29, 2016 10:15pm
@Ali jee It cannot be worse than what it is today.
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Mar 29, 2016 10:33pm
India has economic ties with Iran and Saudi Arabia at the same time.
The large Chabahar port in Iran, is leased to and bought by India. Its turned into a massive Indian port through which India controls the gulf ship traffic and goods supply.
In Saudi, Indian companies like TCS are biggest players in saudi IT industry and L&T benefits off of the huge saudi infrastructire boom.
Kudos to India over controlling and generating huge revenues from involvement and turning into a key economic player.
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Mar 29, 2016 10:56pm
@Ali jee "Saudi Arabia u going to get Muslims in big trouble one day u making Muslim countries weaker and none Muslim countries richer".
When it comes down to economics & commerce, countries should not be considering who is muslim and non-muslim. This is the kind of mindset that will hold you back and might take you back to the stone ages.
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Mar 29, 2016 11:03pm
@Bilal that's well said....
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Mar 29, 2016 11:11pm
@Manish our pm and chief minister are visiting Saudia every few months and Also China wry frequently so what does it mean... we have signed a military treaty with them recently. We train their military and do jointhe military exercises....we don't get crazy about it....doesnt mean if PM Modi is going to Saudia he has done anything...but I wish best of luck for his visit
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Mar 29, 2016 11:18pm
unnecessary excitement from Indians as well as Pakistanis.... it's just a visit with symbolic significance if any.
Concrete business development takes time.... signing MOUs and deals has little significance unless translated in to actual investment. Many states in India sign MOUs worth billions of $, however relatively lesser amount gets actually invested.
The visit is a nice development, that's all. peace.
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Mar 29, 2016 11:21pm
@tasleem ulhaq they can chose any country to provide labour but the fact is that only Pakistan India and Bangladesh have good usefull workforce to provide so they are not doing us any favours. Anyway both Saudi and Iran should've kept their sectarian garbage away from Pakistan
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Mar 29, 2016 11:30pm
It is time Pakistanis stop wasting their time on slogans about Muslim brotherhood. We are just Pakistanis and that is it. Please recognise and normalise relations with Israel and USA.
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Mar 30, 2016 12:00am
@Shehzad lol. True, it's just the success of Modi speaks volume of the business he gets done in each visit
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Mar 30, 2016 12:34am
that's my PM jai ho
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Mar 30, 2016 12:59am
@aslam shaikh No body tells India what it needs to do. India doesn't beg in front of anyone. No Self-Respecting nation will bow before another country. I guess this is something that is not part of ur history books huh?!!!
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Mar 30, 2016 01:28am
@Amir Despite America's repeated insistence to stop all trade with Iran, to cripple it totally, India kept doing business with Iran supplying it with essential goods and importing oil, and also going out of the way by doing business in barter or rupee, thereby sidelining the need to do dollar trade which nutralized US pressure on Iran to some extent. India is a true and trust-worthy friend and thinks of others also to be so. Besides, India has no enemy - only friends and partners.
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Mar 30, 2016 01:30am
@aslam shaikh Iran also supplies oil and Iraq repeatedly invited India to extract oil in Iraq.
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Mar 30, 2016 01:35am
@aslam shaikh India can buy oil from US, Russia, Iraq Egypt Venezuela Peru and other countries. As for those working there they can be rehabilitated by India in India itself with some of them going to other countries. Nobody (incl. India) is indispensable.
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Mar 30, 2016 01:38am
@Zak The excitement is because of the hope of striking business deals and not for the visit itself.
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Mar 30, 2016 02:22am
Expect huge KSA investments in India and even more jobs for Indians in KSA. The visa quota for some other country is bound to get cut down.
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Mar 30, 2016 02:33am
@Sachin thats an outdated statistic...there are lotta report that states pakistan now has more muslims than india
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Mar 30, 2016 02:36am
Saudi Arabia has changed! Low oil prices, a cooling off in its ties with the US and a resurgent Iran... through all this, India becoming a serious player with a growth rate that merits serious considerations by Saudi businesses as an investment destination. All this bodes well for the region
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Mar 30, 2016 02:37am
@shuaib - KSA actually may like it, and thank India.
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Mar 30, 2016 02:38am
Indian and reading way too much into this visit. First of all Saudis sell oil. This is their major export. They import majority of stuff and India is not high on their list to import from.
So what is in it for Modi? India and KSA are not natural allies so what is going then. Well its most to do with India's desire to replace Pakistan with India when it comes to security of Arabs. Arabs know that they cant trust india with this as they have close relations with Iran. There is nothing more to it. With price of crude oil tanking Saudis cant afford to anyone
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Mar 30, 2016 02:53am
@Zak :"Nice to see Indians getting so honoured and excited by just a summoning of Modi by the King of Saudi."
Typical of you to interpret it as 'summoning', when there is nothing to suggest that.
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Mar 30, 2016 02:55am
@Indian .... The fact is that Israeli technology can do a great deal to improve Indian agriculture and animal husbandry.
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Mar 30, 2016 03:28am
@aslam shaikh When Muslims start respecting other Muslims and non-Muslims, every one else will start respecting Muslims too.
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Mar 30, 2016 03:55am
Saudis inviting Mr Modi is business as usual in the aspect of trade deals and business opportunities. Good Luck to the Indian friends much gloating over it. The Saudis are now trying to expand their geo-political influence and are in search of new allies in order to strengthen their regional position to offset growing Iranian THREATS in the Gulf region. But there are more than 2 millions PAKISTANIS, being the largest expat population, living in Saudi Arabia reflecting who would be having the bigger role play for peace and stability as Pakistan is also leading Saudis 34 nation Muslim coalition.
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Mar 30, 2016 04:04am
@aslam shaikh
>@timetostopthis then what if millions working in KSA are sent back and no Oil deals!
It will harm them more than India. As far as Oil, Iran and Russia will love to sell more oil to India :)
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Mar 30, 2016 04:10am
Our Arab brothers should know that the sole pillar of Indian foreign policy is to drive a wedge between Pakistan and its traditional allies. In doing so the Indians are trying to cozy up to the Iran - perceived as a bigger threat to the Saudis than even Israel. It will behove all regional powers to see through this Indian double dealing.
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Mar 30, 2016 04:58am
India has the world at its feet!
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Mar 30, 2016 05:29am
Mr. Modi makes us proud. Keep going Mr. PM.
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Mar 30, 2016 05:35am
@Zak Not summoning bro,inviting!
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Mar 30, 2016 05:37am
@Kamal Pasha. Can you single person on this planet does not want cheap crude oil. We reprocess the crude and export petrol, diesel and other products to Gulf, Europe and USA.
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Mar 30, 2016 05:39am
@shuaib KSA is aware of what India and Pakistan upto for each other, in fact all over the world aware of it. You bet. Its just like USA Vs Russia, North Korea Vs South Korea etc.
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Mar 30, 2016 05:43am
@Amir We dont have iron brothers in this world. Just business friendship with everyone.
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Mar 30, 2016 05:44am
@Recall I dont think so. These are high level foreign visit delegate and planned much before by considering future vision and countries priorities, not by seeing each other.
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Mar 30, 2016 05:54am
A brother in the making.
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Mar 30, 2016 06:01am
@Ali jee more then 20 crore muslims in india living with majpority hinduism follower with equall rights given to them by constitutions. they all are happy and working for the dev. of our country. they all are in each and every city state and field from defence sector to administration.
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Mar 30, 2016 09:15am
Way to go India & Modiji.... Bharat Mata ki Jai......... India is a super power !!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Mar 30, 2016 11:50am
@east indian: because brotherhood concept exist in Islam and india is a in direct beneficiary of it over the years as so many muslims are working in india
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Mar 30, 2016 03:04pm
Modi is the top leader as per Forbes list 2016 and he is repected amongst world leaders ,I appreciate King Salman to invite him KSA and to create new ties which will boost Saudi Pak and India relations.Thanks .
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Mar 30, 2016 03:49pm
@someone very good attitude, this will get India very far in the wrong direction.
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Mar 30, 2016 03:50pm
@someone the workforce can be replaced in one week! And hundreds of other buyers of Oil.
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Mar 31, 2016 04:52am
@Ahmed USA It is Pakistan's desire to encourage positive engagement with every country... Be it an ally like China or an adversary like India...
Well said with positivism.
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Mar 31, 2016 05:10am
@Recall This is reaction of Iranian President's visit to Pakistan.
I doubt it. Modi does not do ego politics .He is constructive politician with deep belief in economic development with all countries including Pakistan.
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Mar 31, 2016 05:38am
@Kamal Pasha. Modi want cheap petrol.
Nothing wrong in that.
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Mar 31, 2016 09:28am
@ZAK, Kindly read article once again .
Modiji went KSA because of Invitation by the King himself.
But your interpretations are always funny , keep it up ZAK.
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Mar 31, 2016 09:43am
@shuaib Rofl. This is the most hilarious comment I have come across in a while.
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Mar 31, 2016 09:47am
@aslam shaikh We spend more money buying Oil from KSA than the remittances by Indians. So go figure who can dictate to who.
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Mar 31, 2016 02:23pm
@Kashif Umar
Haha. You think that is possible? Be practical.
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