Pak-Saudi ties

• Defence cooperation

Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir’s proposal to visiting Saudi Deputy Defence Minister Mohammad bin Abdullah al Aeysh – that the Kingdom and Pakistan sign an all-encompassing defence and strategic pact – came as a surprise and raises some important questions. No doubt the defence minister put in the required homework into the proposal, but shouldn’t such initiatives be first debated at length in parliament precisely so the public, and the House, is not left looking for answers? Also, while we are not clear about just what Pakistan might want to extract from such a pact, we do know pretty well what Riyadh has been asking of Pakistan in terms of military engagement.

That Islamabad and Riyadh enjoy a special, time-tested relationship is not disputed. Neither is the fact that the Kingdom has come to Pakistan’s aid in our time of aid; like the oil leverage following sanctions after the atomic tests in ’98. Yet we have always struggled to get our Arab friends to lean on our side internationally on the Kashmir struggle. Interestingly, the Saudi deputy minister also held talks with COAS Qamar Bajwa, where the latter reminded him that Pakistan still viewed “the unresolved Palestinian issue on par with the Kashmir issue”. Whether that got the message across or not, of course, remains to be seen. For now, though, KSA continues to enjoy healthy, growing ties with India.

Pakistan, experiencing foreign policy troubles of its own, should be very careful about picking sides in an explosive Middle East at present. Only recently we have started mending fences with Iran; a crucial neighbour which also has great stakes in the region. Whatever position the government takes must not come out of some kitchen cabinet revolving around the current or former prime minister. Just like the Yemen issue, important matters of foreign policy must first be brought to the House of the people, especially if they have more than bilateral relevance.