Saudi Arabia, India agree to boost cooperation in energy and defense

Saudi Arabia and India agreed to boost cooperation in supplies of crude and liquefied petroleum gas, according to a joint statement reported by the Saudi state news agency on Wednesday following a visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Saudi Arabia is one of the top exporters of petroleum to India.

Modi met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before cutting short his visit and returning to New Delhi after an attack on a tourist bus in Indian-administered Kashmir which killed 26 people, the worst attack in India since the 2008 Mumbai shootings.

The two countries also agreed to deepen their defense ties and improve their cooperation in defense manufacturing, along with agreements in agriculture and food security.

"The two countries welcomed the excellent cooperation between the two sides in counter-terrorism and terror financing," the joint statement said.