Daijiworld Media Network – Manama
Manama, Jul 7: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday met Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and held discussions on further strengthening bilateral ties, while also conveying greetings from President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Jaishankar, who arrived in Bahrain from Qatar on the second leg of his four-nation Gulf tour, said he was honoured to have an audience with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and also met Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The minister thanked the Bahraini monarch for ensuring the safety and well-being of the Indian diaspora in the country and said India deeply values the King's continued guidance in advancing the India-Bahrain partnership.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar held talks with Bahrain's Foreign Minister, Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, in Manama. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on ongoing regional developments.
Jaishankar's Gulf tour, scheduled from Jul. 5 to 10, includes visits to Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. During the visit, he is meeting top leaders and foreign ministers of the four countries to strengthen bilateral relations and discuss regional developments and issues of mutual interest.
The visit comes amid rapidly evolving political developments in West Asia following the signing of an agreement aimed at ending the recent US-Iran conflict. Bahrain had faced direct Iranian missile and drone attacks before the ceasefire, while Qatar and Oman, along with Pakistan, have played mediation roles in facilitating the truce.
Indirect talks between the United States and Iran are expected to resume in Doha after the completion of the week-long funeral rites of Iran's slain Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
During his visit to Qatar on Sunday, Jaishankar met Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and reviewed cooperation in energy, trade, investments, connectivity and security.
After concluding his Gulf tour, Jaishankar will travel to New York on Jul. 13 to launch India's campaign for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2028-29 term. He will then attend the third India-European Union Trade and Technology Council meeting in Brussels on Jul. 14 and 15.