External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar today held talks with visiting Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the emerging situation in Afghanistan following its takeover by the Taliban and on a range of other global and bilateral issues.

The two ministers are understood to have taken stock of the developments in the war-torn nation after the withdrawal by foreign troops and the grim humanitarian crisis being faced by the Afghan people.

They are also learnt to have discussed whether the new dispensation in Afghanistan deserved to be accorded recognition by the global community, given the Taliban’s history.

”Delighted to welcome FM of Saudi Arabia HH Prince @Faisalbinfarhan for his first ever visit to India,” Jaishankar tweeted before going into the meeting at the Hyderabad House here.

Delighted to welcome FM of Saudi Arabia HH Prince @Faisalbinfarhan for his first ever visit to India. pic.twitter.com/KVk6LRvnZo

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 19, 2021

Prince Faisal, who arrived here last night, will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi tomorrow and is also likely to hold talks with National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two ministers discussed all issues related to their bilateral relationship and regional and international issues of mutual interest. They reviewed the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Council Agreement signed between the two sides during the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Saudi Arabia in October 2019.

They expressed satisfaction at the meetings held under the agreement and the progress achieved. Both sides discussed further steps to strengthen their partnership in trade, investment, energy, defence, security, culture, consular issues, health care and human resources.

They also exchanged views on the developments in Afghanistan and other regional issues. The two ministers discussed bilateral cooperation in multilateral forums such as UN, G-20 and GCC. Jaishankar congratulated Saudi Arabia on its successful presidency of G-20 last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.

Jaishankar appreciated Saudi Arabia for the support provided to the Indian community during the Covid-19 pandemic and urged Saudi Arabia to further relax restrictions on travel from India.