And the future course of relations between the two countries
It was understandable on the part of Nawaz Sharif to join the mourners who had gathered at King Abdullah’s funeral. For decades Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been close allies and have helped each other. Thousands of Pakistani workers and professionals are employed in the Kingdom and have served the host country to the best of their abilities. Pakistan’s national interests require maintaining friendly relations with the Kingdom on the basis of equality.
Despite the claims of Islamic fraternity, economic relations and strategic considerations rather than commonalty of faith play the crucial role in determining the priorities of the Muslim countries. This explains Saudi keenness to develop closer relations with India. In March last year, when the then Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz visited India, both sides discussed deeper partnership focusing on investments and joint ventures in their countries. In November last year, the Crown Prince had a bilateral meeting with the newly elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Brisbane. Riyadh reiterated its readiness to cooperate with the BJP ruled India in all sectors.
The Kingdom has lately realised that its support to the extremists in Syria has strengthened the ISIS which has turned into a global threat while posing a challenge to the Kingdom itself. Pakistan has kept its eyes closed too long to the activities of some of the friendly governments in the Gulf who have used Pakistan’s soil to fight proxy wars and funded extremist organisations working against the interests of the people of Pakistan. While the federal minister for provincial coordination has retracted his statement, the facts are widely known. The friends should be told politely but firmly that this cannot be permitted anymore. Pakistan should however welcome mutual cooperation in the war against the terrorist networks. Pakistan should also play a neutral role in the Gulf politics. It is in its national interest not to be seen as acting against one country on another’s behalf.