At least 26 people, including two foreigners, lost their lives in one of the most severe terror attacks Jammu and Kashmir has seen in recent years. The assailants are believed to be linked to The Resistance Front, a faction of the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. They opened fire on tourists at the well-known Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread panic in the remote mountain area. Intelligence agencies have named Saifullah Kasuri, also known as Khalid, a senior Lashkar-e-Taiba commander, along with two operatives based in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, as the key planners behind the attack.

The incident sparked nationwide anger and led Prime Minister Narendra Modi to cut short his official visit to Saudi Arabia. He returned to Delhi early Wednesday to lead an emergency Cabinet Committee on Security meeting.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, marking his third visit to the oil-rich Gulf nation as India’s premier. “India deeply values its long and historic ties with Saudi Arabia that have acquired strategic depth and momentum in recent years,”  a statement by Modi released from his office.

The Indian diaspora and a Kathak troop welcomed PM Modi. As they waited for Prime Minister Modi’s arrival, members of the Indian community in Jeddah sang Saare Jahan Se Achha to greet him.

During Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Jeddah, India and Saudi Arabia signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) across different sectors, according to a Ministry of External Affairs statement.

The agreements cover cooperation in areas such as space, healthcare, anti-doping efforts, and postal services. One MoU was signed between the Saudi Space Agency and India’s Department of Space to collaborate on peaceful space initiatives. Another agreement was made between the health ministries of both countries to work together in the healthcare sector. Additionally, the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee (SAADC)  and India’s National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) signed an MoU focused on education and prevention in the field of anti-doping. The Saudi Post Corporation (SPL) and India’s Department of Posts, under the Ministry of Communications, signed an agreement to work together on inward surface parcel services.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman jointly led the second meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) in Jeddah, according to an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

However, due to the heinous terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Prime Minister Modi cut short his visit and left Saudi Arabia early, cancelling a planned official dinner.

During the Council meeting, both leaders took stock of the significant progress made in politics, defence, trade, energy, technology, agriculture, and cultural exchanges. They signed the official minutes of the meeting, reaffirming their shared commitment to deepening cooperation under the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).

Highlighting the growing defence relationship, which includes joint military drills, training, and defence industry partnerships, they announced the formation of a new Ministerial Committee on Defence Cooperation. A separate Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation was also launched to support the rising cultural and social ties between the two countries.