Indo-Saudi anti-crime pact inked

According to the MEA spokesperson, King Abdullah acknowledged the need to work together on fighting terror. ‘‘This is a long-term struggle, but this was one which will be carried on until this scourge is completely eliminated,’’ the Saudi King is believed to have said at the talks.

The Saudi King’s visit — he is the chief guest for tomorrow’s Republic Day parade — has provided the setting for key intelligence and security officials to hold separate discussions.

Secretary General of Saudi Arabian National Security Council Bandar bin Sultan Abdul Aziz Al Saud, who has been Riyadh’s Ambassador to the US, is also part of the delegation and held talks with National Security Advisor M K Narayanan.

A meeting with Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee also provided the opportunity for the heads of Indian intelligence agencies to interact with their Saudi counterparts Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, Chief of General Intelligence in Saudi Arabia, and his assistant chief Faizal bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Saud.

This was, perhaps, the first time that heads of Indian intelligence agencies got an opportunity to discuss these issues with their Saudi counterparts.

Both sides will continue to look at broadening the scope of cooperation on fighting terror and related financial crimes.

Earlier, the Prime Minister and the Saudi King held a one-on-one as well as delegation level talks covering all important areas of the bilateral relationship. Singh, who has initiated the ‘Look West’ policy, views Riyadh as an important partner in expanding economic ties with oil producing states.

Both countries signed four agreements today. Apart from the MoU on combatting crime, the two sides also signed an agreement on avoidance of double taxation, investment promotion and protection agreement, and cooperation agreement in sports and youth affairs.

The agreement on combatting crime was signed by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faizal bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.