Saudi Arabian de-escalation efforts are getting ink in the foreign press, amid escalating tensions between Pakistan and India following an alleged terror attack. The New York Times highlighted Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al Jubeir’s direct meetings in Delhi on Thursday and Islamabad on Friday. The US remained in the periphery, in contrast to its past involvement in similar crises, the newspaper said.

IN CONTEXT- The neighbouring countries have been exchanging fire after India accused Pakistan of involvement in a terror attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir. The NYT shed light on the Kingdom’s strong ties with both countries, with Pakistan being a key security ally and India being a key economic partner.

The newspaper alluded to Saudi Arabia’s and UAE’s efforts in previous episodes of the conflict. In 2019, following cross-border attacks, the two Gulf nations sent high-level envoys to both countries. In 2021, the UAE brokered a renewal to the ceasefire along the line of control in Kashmir.

“It’s in their [Gulf states] interest to make sure that the region is stable”, Time Magazine quoted the director of the centre for Muslim States and Societies at the University of Western Australia Samina Yasmeen. The Kashmir attack occurred while Modi was in Jeddah discussing the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor and a potential USD 100 bn investment deal.

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