The late Crown Prince Naif’s tireless endeavor for a stable country and region made the world a safer place, said India’s Law and Justice and Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, who was in the Kingdom to attend his funeral.
Prince Naif will be remembered not only for his contributions in the development, growth and prosperity of the Kingdom, but his passion, commitment and philosophy in shaping the Kingdom’s and the region’s security.
Prince Naif, the deputy premier and long-serving interior minister, died in Geneva on Saturday.
The Indian minister said Prince Naif was a man of vision who provided a clear and firm administrative leadership to the Kingdom’s security apparatus for over three decades. His policies enabled the Kingdom to steadily progress.
Khurshid, along with Indian Ambassador Hamid Ali Rao and Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai, offered formal condolence on behalf of the Indian government to Crown Prince Salman in Jeddah on Monday.
The Indian minister said Prince Naif, who was charged with managing the country’s borders, its crime-fighting apparatus and the intelligence force, was extraordinarily methodical. “This exactness in his approach made him successful on all the fronts,” Khurshid said.
“He was always a source of strength to the royal family and the country. A man who stood out for his commitment and conviction to make the Kingdom a safer place and also to promote peace and stability in the region and the world over,” Khurshid added.
“A pragmatist and resolute leader, Prince Naif enjoyed strong relations across the globe. His death is a great loss for the world,” he said.
Prince Naif, being interior minister, was keenly involved in security and administrative matters specially related to the Kingdom’s firm and resolute fight against terror. The security that expanded from his country, region to the world over was largely due to his vast experience, vision and conviction, he said.
The Indian minister said though the Indo-Saudi ties go back a long way, it is the recent coming together on major issues after Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah’s visit to Delhi and Indian Premier Manmohan Singh’s visit to Riyadh that have enabled the two nations to become major partners in the development process in the region. He said that the vision and wisdom of King Abdullah and his government have lifted “our ties to strategic relationship.”
Khurshid also offered the Indian government and people’s congratulation to Crown Prince Salman and Interior Minister Prince Ahmad on their new appointments.
Khurshid said that the government of India attaches great importance to its relations with Saudi Arabia. “Our prime minister is in Mexico for the G20 summit. But when he learned about Prince Naif’s death, he ensured that a Cabinet minister represents him at the funeral. A special flight was arranged so that I reach here on time, Khurshid said.
