Pakistan has no role in Gulf standoff
There are economic compulsions that require maintenance of good relations with the Gulf countries. The largest number of Pakistani expatriates are employed in the Gulf (3,682,544). Pakistan also receives the largest amount of remittances from the Gulf (SA $4.52b, UAE $3.47b, Qatar $302m). Saudi Arabia and the UAE are also two of Pakistan’s major trading partners. On the other hand the Gulf countries too owe a lot to Pakistan. PIA trained UAE’s flagship airline Emirates. In fact the first flight the Emirates took was from Dubai to Karachi in 1985. Pakistani workers, engineers and doctors have helped build the Gulf as it is today. Pakistani pilots played a vital role in safeguarding the Arab territories in 1967 and 1973 wars. Pakistan’s soldiers help maintain security in Saudi Arabia today. But Pakistan plays no role in reconciliation in the Gulf.
What has created complications is Nawaz Sharif’s personalised diplomacy, particularly vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia. Saudis brokered a deal for him in 2000 with Musharraf and took him along with 18 members of his family who enjoyed Saudi hospitality till 2007. Personal indebtedness led Nawaz Sharif to join the Saudi military alliance in reckless haste despite its aims and objects being still a mystery. The government allowed former COAS Raheel Sharif to be a part of the Saudi sectarian venture.
Sharif family had business relations with those in power in Qatar. Nawaz Sharif relies heavily upon the testimony of former Qatari PM Hamad bin Jasim in the ongoing corruption investigation. But the Qatari leader has been declared an enemy by the Saudi government which accuses him of conspiring to physically divide Saudi Arabia.
Personalised relations might have benefited Nawaz family but these have turned into a bane for Pakistan. Pakistan’s Prime Minister was humiliated at the Arab Islamic Conference addressed by Trump. During his recent brief visit to Jeddah he was summarily dismissed by the Saudi King after having been asked, “Whose side are you on?” While Kuwait, Turkey and India are playing a role in the Gulf standoff, Pakistan sits idle with its hands tied.