Saudi Arabia, in a joint statement signed with Pakistan, appeared to support India’s stance on Jammu and Kashmir, asking the two countries to resolve “outstanding issues” bilaterally.

The joint statement came a day after a formal meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi de facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 7 at the Safa Palace in Mecca.

“Both sides emphasized the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.

India’s consistent position on the Kashmir issue is that it is a bilateral issue between the two countries and there is no question of third-party mediation or intervention.

While both India and Pakistan have long-standing friendly relations with Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, relations between New Delhi and Riyadh have improved significantly under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Saudi Arabia has always maintained a balanced approach on the Jammu and Kashmir issue. Although Saudi Arabia expressed concern over India’s abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, it did not explicitly condemn these actions, instead describing them as New Delhi’s internal matter.

In 2019, Pakistan urged the United States to “persuade” India to initiate negotiations for a peaceful settlement of the Kashmir issue. Earlier, US President Donald Trump offered to mediate between the two countries on the Kashmir issue.

However, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made it clear that “any discussion on this issue, if necessary, will be with Pakistan only and will be bilateral only”.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will remain an integral part of the country.”

New Delhi expressed its hope to establish normal good-neighborly relations with Pakistan in an environment free from terror, hostility and violence.