Daily Times

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman will be in Islamabad after the weekend for a historic and momentous visit to Islamabad with his high powered entourage of Ministers and aides expected to sign eight major agreements of cooperation worth billions of dollars bailing out Pakistan from its economic vows. The associates include ministers, advisers and CEOs of the large Saudi Companies ready to invest in Pakistan.  These agreements are in the areas of investment, finance, power, internal security, renewable energy, media, culture and sports. The investment is expected to reach up to $12 billion for all the projects wherein the largest would be the agreement to set up an oil refinery by Aramco including a petrochemical complex in Gwadar.

Formal diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia established and dates back to the time of independence of Pakistan however the spiritual and religious connection with the Kingdom has remained centuries old due to the pilgrimage to the sacred affinities with holy places.

There was never a one way relation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. If Saudi Arabia continues to stand by Pakistan in thick and thin including economic and political crisis, Pakistan also supported the kingdom in times of war and peace especially in the key strategic regional issues. This reciprocity has remained the hallmark of the relations.  Both states supported each other at the global and regional level keeping in view their common geopolitical and strategic interests. Apart from this, both states maintained a strong strategic and political relationship based on dynamic web of cooperative linkages and history of longstanding affinity.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have deep rooted cooperation in the spheres of economics, trade, strategic, military to military ties at the state to state levels. Pakistan place the Saudi Arabia as an important factor in the regional setting and its foreign policy ambitions are also connected with keeping steady and warm relations with the Kingdom. This is also reflective of the fact that when the incumbent Prime Minister Imran Khan sworn in as Prime Minister, his first foreign visit was to Saudi Arabia. Apart from these economic supports, both states are cooperating at strategic and tactical levels as well.  Pakistan is having one of the largest and finest professional army in the world.  Saudi military personnel are frequently visiting to different institutions of the Armed forces for regular training and joint working together similarly, Pakistani military personal also frequently serve for train and advice missions from Pakistan in the kingdom as a result of the joint programs and agreements of cooperation in the security sector. For instance retired General Raheel sheriff is now heading the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), based in Riyadh. IMCTC has been launched by the Crown Prince in 2017 as a Saudi led 41 country member alliance of which Pakistan is an important part. The incumbent visionary leadership in Saudi Arabia has outlined their “Saudi Vision 2030” which is built around three primary pillars of “vibrant society, thriving economy, and ambitious nation” presented by the Council of Economic and Development Affairs chaired by the Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman. The vision provides Pakistan an ample opportunity to work closely with its own vision of 2030 wherein we can upscale our manpower to more skilled and managerial levels to work in a manner to boost the remittances.

Pakistan is an emerging economy with an economic growth rate of around five percent, and with China investing $60 billion through the CPEC projects, the country has now opened up for international investors

Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are important for both countries. These should be carefully developed and as they are based on mutual respect and consideration for each other’s constraints and challenges, they should continue to blossoming in the times and years to come. As a result of Pakistani security and economic concerns while being situated in a volatile region having Afghanistan and India as its close neighbors, Saudi Arabia is providing and willing to assist Pakistan. Pakistan has already paid a heavy price during the Afghan Jihad and later the rise of menace of terrorism and extremism at home. Pakistan also lost thousands of precious lives as a result. Terrorism has remained a common concern for both countries. Both states are also cooperating with each other on all levels to curb this monster. Pakistan is also an emerging economy with around a some what unstable economic growth of 5 % over the years, and with China’s investing of $60 billion through CPEC development and infrastructure projects, the country is now opened for the international investors.

Over the years, there has not been any shaky patch in the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. There is a strong need that the relationship remain on a smooth footing and continue to build in the lines that may help both states to progress and reach towards their glorious future together. In the complex geostrategic and geopolitical environment of the Gulf region, Pakistan needs to play its cards safely and remain neutral in order to keep and uplift the its historic role of mediation among the actors in the region especially to avoid any further conflict. The relations should be based on the sovereign protection and promotion of the national interest of the country.  As the highest level visit is expected over the weekend from a brotherly Islamic country, there is a need for the highest decision-making quarters to continue and uphold the value of transparency and wisdom for the better good of the nation and country as a whole. Rest time will tell!

The writer is Director, Institute of Peace and Diplomatic Studies Islamabad

Published in Daily Times, February 18^th 2019.