Riyadh

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval arrived in Riyadh on Tuesday for an official visit, reflecting the deepening strategic and security engagement between India and Saudi Arabia.

Doval was received at the airport by India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan, and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, Ambassador Dr Saud Al-Sati, according to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.

The visit comes amid strengthened bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism and security matters. On January 28, Saudi Arabia condemned the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the terror incident near Delhi’s Red Fort.

Hon’ble NSA Shri Ajit Doval held a productive meeting with the Saudi Minister of State, Member of the Cabinet, and National Security Adviser, H.E. Dr. Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban. The discussions covered bilateral cooperation as well as regional and other issues of mutual… pic.twitter.com/RZf0vF1OtF

— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) February 4, 2026

On the same day, the third meeting of the India–Saudi Arabia Security Working Group, held under the Political, Consular and Security Cooperation Committee of the Strategic Partnership Council, took place in Riyadh. The meeting was co-chaired by Vinod Bahade, Joint Secretary (Counter-Terrorism) in the Ministry of External Affairs, and Ahmed Al-Eissa, Director General of Legal Affairs and International Cooperation at Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior.

Both sides reiterated their strong condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and specifically denounced the April 22, 2025 attack on civilians in Pahalgam and the November 10, 2025 terror incident near the Red Fort in New Delhi.

Hon'ble NSA Shri Ajit Doval arrived in Riyadh on an official visit. He was received at the Airport by Ambassador Dr Suhel Ajaz Khan and H.E Deputy Minister for Political Affairs @KSAmofaEN Ambassador Dr. Saud Al-Sati@MEAIndia@IndianDiplomacy pic.twitter.com/LLarW06r5Z

— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) February 3, 2026

The two countries conducted a comprehensive review of ongoing security cooperation and discussed threats posed by terrorist groups at global and regional levels. They also exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in countering extremism and radicalisation, combating terror financing, preventing the misuse of technology by terrorist networks, and addressing the nexus between transnational organised crime and terrorism.

Measures to further strengthen bilateral legal, judicial and law-enforcement cooperation were also deliberated upon. It was agreed that the next meeting of the Security Working Group would be held in India on a mutually convenient date.

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Earlier, on January 22, Secretary (South) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Dr Neena Malhotra, met resident ambassadors of Arab countries to review ongoing cooperation and preparations for upcoming engagements, while identifying priority areas to further strengthen partnerships across multiple sectors.