Imran Khan’s self-imposed rule that suggested he would not undertake any foreign jaunts for three months is already poised to come undone. For, by all accounts, he will set off for Saudi Arabia some time during the first week of next month. Though this is rather more a case of needs must as opposed to deliberate backtracking. Not least because Pakistan is seeking a $4 billion-loan from the Kingdom to offset the country’s crippling balance of payment deficit. And some deals are better clinched in person. That being said, the new premier faces a tightrope of sorts. Not least when it comes to maintaining the close bilateral relationship; while ensuring that it remains one between two sovereign states. For far too long, successive Pakistani leaderships have allowed the country to be treated as a satellite state. Yet even ahead of the PM’s visit, the pressure is on. The Saudis are seeking Khan’s public backing of the Islamic Military Alliance (IMA); to lend it a non-sectarian cover. This was the message reportedly conveyed to the Army chief who visited the Kingdom this week to perform Hajj. Thus analysts predict that the new premier will ultimately sign a No Objection Certificate to green-light Gen Raheel Sharif’s continued commanding of the coalition. After all, the beggars cannot be choosers. Quite literally. This is where Imran’s diplomatic skills will have to come into play. For a start, by reassuring Tehran that such a move is not tantamount to directly ‘siding’ with Riyadh in the ongoing proxy wars between the two in the region. After all, the reality is this: the Pakistan Army is training the Saudi military and the people of this country, let alone those of Iran, do not enjoy any concrete guarantees that such combat exercises have no bearing on, say, Yemen; where global rights groups have long been talking of war crimes. And then PM Khan will have to play to the home crowd. Convincing them that he has not sold out the need to remain neutral in this and other conflicts in the broader Middle East for a quick multi-billion buck. Thus a mammoth challenge lies before the new set-up. That is, placing the bilateral relationship with Riyadh on more balanced footing while also reassuring Iran that Islamabad is an ally for the long-term. Yet the most important of all will be sending those here at home an indication of just how independent foreign policy will be with a new man at the helm. * Published in Daily Times, August 25th 2018.