Pak-Saudi ties: Recent developments
Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are two brotherly Islamic countries that enjoyed very good relations in various fields i.e. economics, defense, and security. Both are members of the United Nations, OIC, and other international organizations. Saudi Arabia is the home of almost 2.5 million Pakistanis who are not only contributing to the development and prosperity of the Kingdom but also playing a very important role in Pakistan's economy through their multi dollars remittances. Recently, Pakistani leadership including Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javid Bajwa along with officials successfully concluded the visit to the Kingdom almost after the gap of one & a half years.
As mentioned earlier, both countries had helped each other many times but ties between the two countries get frozen & strained especially after Prime Minister Imran Khan planned a visit to Malaysia and then the visit was canceled due to pressure from Saudi Arabia. The second factor was a statement made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in August 2020 Anniversary of revocation of State Status of Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. From all these developments Saudis perceived that Pakistan with Turkey, Iran, and Malaysia is going to create another Islamic bloc parallel to OIC but suddenly Prime Minister canceled his visit to Malaysia and Pakistan cleared its position on an issue that there is no attention to creating a parallel bloc.
After the revocation of Article 370 and the special status of Jammu and Kashmir on 5th August 2019, Pakistani leadership was very keen to get support from OIC and especially from Saudi Arabia to call a special meeting of its Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir, but Saudis were reluctant to call that meeting due to good economic ties with India. Pakistani Foreign Minister said, “I am once again respectfully telling OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation. If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris.”
Riyadh considered these remarks made by Pakistan’s Foreign Minster very seriously and it was widely seen as a warning that Pakistan is preparing for bloc parallel to OIC. Ties between the two countries get strained and the Kingdom recalled $1bn of a $3bn loans to cash-strapped Pakistan and an expired multi-billion-dollar oil credit facility to Islamabad has not been renewed.
After new developments in the world emerge i.e. new administration coming into power in the USA and changing regional dynamics specifically in the middle east, Saudis tried to look again for their time-tested friends, especially Pakistan. It was the sole reason behind the invitation of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan with his delegation including the chief of Army staff visited the Kingdom from 7 to 9 May. During the visit, Pakistani leadership was given a warm reception by the Crown Prince and both countries agreed to mend strained ties.
After the meeting with Crown Prince, a joint statement was issued that reads, “The two sides discussed ways to strengthen relations of the two brotherly countries in all fields and agreed to intensify contacts and cooperation between government officials and the Private sector in the two countries with the aim of promoting bilateral relations to the benefit of both countries.”
On the issue of Kashmir, it is stated in a joint statement that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, “emphasized the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region”.
There was also another major breakthrough which concluded in the signing of an agreement between brotherly states to establish a Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council. During the visit, both countries also signed various agreements and MoUs addressing the treatment of criminals, crime, combating drug trafficking, and financing energy, water, and infrastructure projects.
This visit is considered a major breakthrough and an important milestone in bilateral relations, as both countries agreed to strengthen and deepen their relations and cooperation at various levels. There are many opportunities from both countries to increase their bilateral trade. This visit sets the stage to deepen and diversify relations at a higher level especially after the establishment of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme coordination Council.