Maintaining good relations with Saudi Arabia
You need more than one friend in the arena
THE communiqué issued after the visit by Saudi Defence Minister Prince Mohammad bin Salman promises to boost ties and promote bilateral cooperation in all fields. It appears now that the strain in the ties caused by Pakistan’s decision to not actively participate in the Saudi-led coalition’s operation in Yemen is largely removed. The present visit is likely to bring things further back on track. Both sides discussed regional and international political and security issues that affected them. The two countries face a common enemy in the form of terrorism and both need each other’s cooperation in dealing with the threat. In two recent IS related terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia two Pakistani citizens were supposed to be involved.
After being sidelined by the US, Saudi Arabia is increasingly looking east. Earlier this year, Riyadh welcomed the Chinese President and Indian Prime Minister. Prince Muhammad’s visit to Pakistan is a part of the tour of three Asian countries that also include Japan and China, respectively the second and third largest importers of oil from the kingdom. After the economic crisis which is currently brewing in the Gulf region on account of low oil prices, the Saudi government is meditating reforms which require diversification of economic activities with lesser dependence on oil income. Equally important for the Saudis is to avoid wasting their resources on conflicts abroad and develop friendly relations with all states in the region.
Pakistan has a long history of close ties with Saudis Arabia. Islamabad in the past looked the other way as certain Gulf countries patronised sectarian outfits and funded seminaries to spread an extremist version of Islam. Pakistan had to pay heavily in human and economic terms when some of the extremist outfits indulged in sectarian killings, attacked security forces and targeted strategic assets. While maintaining good relations with Riyadh, Pakistan must give priority to its own national interests. What is more, Islamabad must ensure that relations with any one country are not at the expense of any other friendly country.