Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday joined the Crown Prince, and the Prime Minister of Kuwait in witnessing the grand opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup as the chief guest. The inauguration event was held at the Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium in Kuwait City. The Prime Minister is on a two-day visit to the Gulf nation, this marks the first visit by any Indian PM in 43 years.
“We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait which has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners and have shared interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region,” he said.
Modi’s visit to Kuwait comes two weeks after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria and amid signs of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
PM Modi graciously agreed to meet 101-year-old Mangal Sain Handa, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer, after a request from his granddaughter Shreya Juneja on X (formerly Twitter).
Mangal Sain Handa has been a long-time admirer of PM Modi. In 2023, on the occasion of Handa’s 100th birthday, PM Modi sent a letter to him, acknowledging his contributions to India’s global engagement.
In the letter, PM Modi wrote: “It is a pleasure to learn about your 100 birthday on September 1, 2023. Greetings and heartiest congratulations to you on this occasion.” He further noted Handa’s role as an IFS officer, mentioning his work in promoting India’s diplomatic relations and navigating complex global issues. The Prime Minister concluded the letter with warm wishes, saying, “May you continue to be blessed with good health and well-being.”
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