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                  From Left to Right (Arshad Khan, Salman Khurshid, Yogendra Yadav and Suhail Ahmad) The Indian community in Riyadh, one of the largest Indian Muslim communities abroad, held an event this weekend in the capital on ‘Current Political Discourse in India – A Challenge for Minorities’. The event that took place on 2 nd December was graced by Mr. Yogendra Yadav, a professor, politician, and political analyst. At the invitation of the Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys’ Association (AMUOBA) in Riyadh, Professor Yadav graced the occasion. The founder of Swaraj India spoke eloquently at the event. He said, “More than a minority question, we are looking at the specific question of Indian Muslims. Because Indian Muslims suffer, not merely as a religious minority, but also as a socially disadvantaged and discriminated group. This is what makes the situation of Indian Muslims unique. They face a challenge today. A challe...

I was barely 4 years old in 1993 when a pair of blue jeans and a white shirt drenched in blood came home. Papa, widely known as Er. Iqbal Ahmad among his colleagues, friends, and acquaintances, had met with an accident, a horrible one. It took him more than six months to get up from bed and walk. He used support but never lost hope. I was too young to understand things back then. He survived! He lived…he moved on. November 2013, Riyad h ,  Saudi Arabia. More of a second life it was. Since then, I have never seen him give up. I remember my first day at school. I was writing my entrance exam, and all the while Papa was waiting there, out in the corridor. I didn’t realize his presence then. Time passed.. I grew up, finished my education. He still taught me, taught me a lot, a lot... through his words and actions. He taught me from his past experiences. He taught me from his everyday events. He lived the cleanest life anyone could have. I realized all this after he was g...

From Paris to Riyadh, Since 1839 They say that old wines get better with age, and so do relationships. France celebrated its 175th anniversary in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2014. Marking one of the longest presences in any nation. From the first meeting between General de Gaulle in 1967 and then King Faisal Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, we have evolved to a better, stronger, and deeper standard of personal relations with the French government and the people. The present President of France, Mr. Francois Hollande, has been closely associated with the Kingdom since his election in 2012. During his last year’s visit to the Kingdom, he met the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz; the relationship has without a doubt grown over these 50 years. Honored as a guest at the GCC summit, the President of France invigorated the meeting with his presence. It revived the strategic partnership between the two nations. Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Nayef, Int...

Saudi-US Relationship; Renewed and Reviewed   Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman (right) was received by John Kerry, Secretary of State of the U.S. (left), in Washington. To reinvigorate the relationship, Prince Mohammad Bin Salman flew to the US in June for a historic visit. Even before Prince Mohammad had landed in the US, this long-awaited visit was considered historic, as it was the first time he had flown there since assuming the position in January 2015. The visit was to focus on various issues fuming in the Middle East region. The powerful Deputy Crown Prince flew to the United States on Monday, 13 th June, to meet with President Barack Obama of the United States and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon of the United Nations to discuss the various unwanted events and developments in the region. Mohammad bin Salman, also the Defense Minister, came amid a diplomatic row with the United Nations and policy differences with the United States over the war in S...