<p>External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today left on an official visit to Saudi Arabia for talks on a range of issues, including the controversial 'Nitaqat' law, energy security and counter-terrorism cooperation.<br /><br />Khurshid's visit, from May 24-27, would be the first by an Indian External Affairs Minister in the last five years. In 2008, then Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited the Gulf Kingdom.<br /><br />Khurshid will hold discussions with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal on bilateral, regional and international issues and will also call on the leadership of Saudi Arabia.</p>.<p>The visit comes at a time when a number of Indians are leaving Saudi Arabia as a result of the Kingdom's Nitaqat programme, which is meant to regularise foreign workers.</p>.<p>The 'Nitaqat' law makes it mandatory for local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers.</p>.<p>There has been widespread perception that the new policy will lead to denial of job opportunities for a large number of Indians working there.<br /><br />The Saudi government was implementing the Nitaqat law to cut unemployment in the country. Over two million Indians are currently working in Saudi Arabia.<br /><br />Besides, focusing on the fall out of the 'Nitaqat' law, Khurshid will also hold talks on other bilateral issues including energy security.<br /><br />Saudi Arabia is also India's biggest supplier of oil. According to official figures, India imports nearly 17 per cent of its oil demand from Saudi Arabia.</p>.<p>Counter-terrorism cooperation will also be discussed during Khurshid's visit.<br />Last year, the Saudi government had helped India apprehend two key terror suspects, including Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, who was wanted in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack.<br /><br />Saudi authorities had also detained and deported a suspected founding member of the Indian Mujahideen terrorist group, Fasih Mehmood, for the 2010 bomb blast in Bangalore.<br /><br />Khurshid will also carry a personal letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.</p>
<p>External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today left on an official visit to Saudi Arabia for talks on a range of issues, including the controversial 'Nitaqat' law, energy security and counter-terrorism cooperation.<br /><br />Khurshid's visit, from May 24-27, would be the first by an Indian External Affairs Minister in the last five years. In 2008, then Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee had visited the Gulf Kingdom.<br /><br />Khurshid will hold discussions with his Saudi counterpart Prince Saud Al-Faisal on bilateral, regional and international issues and will also call on the leadership of Saudi Arabia.</p>.<p>The visit comes at a time when a number of Indians are leaving Saudi Arabia as a result of the Kingdom's Nitaqat programme, which is meant to regularise foreign workers.</p>.<p>The 'Nitaqat' law makes it mandatory for local companies to hire one Saudi national for every 10 migrant workers.</p>.<p>There has been widespread perception that the new policy will lead to denial of job opportunities for a large number of Indians working there.<br /><br />The Saudi government was implementing the Nitaqat law to cut unemployment in the country. Over two million Indians are currently working in Saudi Arabia.<br /><br />Besides, focusing on the fall out of the 'Nitaqat' law, Khurshid will also hold talks on other bilateral issues including energy security.<br /><br />Saudi Arabia is also India's biggest supplier of oil. According to official figures, India imports nearly 17 per cent of its oil demand from Saudi Arabia.</p>.<p>Counter-terrorism cooperation will also be discussed during Khurshid's visit.<br />Last year, the Saudi government had helped India apprehend two key terror suspects, including Zabiuddin Ansari, alias Abu Jundal, who was wanted in the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attack.<br /><br />Saudi authorities had also detained and deported a suspected founding member of the Indian Mujahideen terrorist group, Fasih Mehmood, for the 2010 bomb blast in Bangalore.<br /><br />Khurshid will also carry a personal letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.</p>