Prince Faisal talks to Indian and Pakistani counterparts

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan held separate phone calls with his counterparts in Pakistan and India on Friday. He discussed bilateral relations and the evolving regional situation amid rising tensions between the two South Asian nations, reports Saudi Gazette.

The diplomatic outreach followed a deadly militant attack on Tuesday near Pahalgam in the Indian-administered part of Kashmir’s scenic Pesarang Valley.

The assault claimed the lives of at least 26 people and triggered a wave of accusations and retaliatory measures from both sides.

Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said in a post on social media that he discussed the Pahalgam attack and its cross-border connections with Prince Faisal.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also posted on X, stating that the two ministers agreed to maintain consultations and coordination on the unfolding regional developments.

The Kashmir attack, which India has blamed on Pakistan-based militants, has sharply escalated tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. In response, India suspended a key water-sharing treaty, closed a major land border crossing, and halted airspace and trade agreements with Pakistan.

Islamabad, in turn, warned of potential military action, further raising fears of a broader conflict.

Saudia rejects displacement of Palestinians

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Friday rejected any proposal involving the forced displacement of Palestinians. He stressed that the residents of Gaza are deprived of the basic necessities of life.

Speaking at the meeting of the Ministerial Committee for International Action to End the War on Gaza, held in Antalya, Turkey, Prince Faisal reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s refusal of any scenario that includes removing Palestinians from their land, reports the Saudi Gazette.

He criticized attempts to link the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza to a ceasefire, and urged the international community to intensify efforts to secure unimpeded aid delivery.

Prince Faisal reiterated the Kingdom’s support for ongoing ceasefire negotiations and commended the mediation efforts led by Egypt and Qatar.

A joint communiqué issued after the meeting denounced any form of forced displacement or expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem.

The statement supported the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and encouraged the unification of Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, under the Palestinian Authority.

The committee also called for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in accordance with UN resolutions and condemned Israeli violations of international law in the occupied territories, including settlement expansion, home demolitions, and land confiscations.

Saudi Arabia largest trading partner of BRICS

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom is the largest trading partner of the BRICS group in the Middle East.

He made the remarks during a ministerial meeting of the BRICS Friends in Cape Town. “Trade relations with the BRICS countries have witnessed continued growth, reflecting the excellent and developed relations among the countries of the group. The total bilateral trade with the countries of the group increased from US$81 billion in 2017 to US$128 billion in 2021 and US$160 in 2022.

Prince Faisal affirmed that Saudi Arabia is keen to develop future cooperation with the BRICS group by benefiting from the Kingdom’s capabilities to meet common interests and achieve prosperity for all.

He explained that the Kingdom shares basic values with the BRICS countries, namely the belief that relations between countries are based on the principles of respect for sovereignty, non-interference, adherence to international law, the existence of multilateral frameworks and collective action as reference points to face common challenges.

“The Kingdom also shares with other countries its belief in the importance of peace, security and stability in order to refocus efforts toward national development and common prosperity,” he said.

The Saudi minister added that the Kingdom continues to be committed to working with international partners to achieve the goals of sustainable development by 2030, and to intensify global efforts to enhance food and energy security amid recurring crises and supply chain issues.

He mentioned that the Kingdom is a leading country in the field of humanitarian and development aid in all fields worldwide as it is among the top 10 donors to low- and middle-income countries.