- What they bring to their countries
It is assumed that Pak-Saudi relations are the outcome of some economic gains or trade benefits which are the reason behind the union of the moderate leadership on both sides. However, I believe that this strengthening bond between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia goes far beyond the usual trade links. On one side of this bilateral relation there is the incumbent prime minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, whose journey from being a cricket celebrity to the explorer of the political horizons is known to all of us. On the other side, Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is loved by the people of Saudi Arab for his moderate ideology, unflinching approach against corruption, modernist tendencies and staunch support for the truth.
These leaders might belong to different ethnic, cultural and national backgrounds, but they share common ideologies to lead their nations. One of them, having the dream of making Pakistan the state of Madinah, and the other, being the keeper of the holy lands look forward to the alleviation of corruption. Standing against the unjust rule of the world’s super powers, Pakistani premier and the Saudi crown prince raise their voices for the propagation of human rights. Amidst so many commonalities, the ties between both the leaders seem imminent and inevitable. Muhammad Bin Salman’s trip to Pakistan is followed by countless relief packages for the people of Pakistan. A number of journalists around us have been criticising the current deals between both the countries. Despite this harsh criticism, Pakistan’s gradual evolution cannot be ignored and no one can deny the fact that Pakistan’s foreign policy is treading on the path to improvement.
Alongside the good wishes, deals worth billions of dollars were signed between the two countries. As Pakistanis, we are well aware of our premier’s personality. However, we might not be well acquainted with that of Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman. It is said that some people have to toil and tread through a path to their glory and destiny. Who would have known that a prince born to the third wife of King Suleman, Fahda bint e Falah bin Heslin, marking history, would make his way to the throne beating a row of so many princes waiting for their turn The Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman is among those very few individuals who, through their determination and diligence, add countless feathers to their crown at a very young age. Being the eldest of all the brothers, Muhammad Bin Salman received unmatched love and affection from King Salman and enjoyed the liberty to seek education on his own will. After receiving a degree in Law from King Saud University, Muhammad bin Salman directed all his attentions to the internal, external and economic affairs of the state and this became the reason for making him to look to the west and that is how he started observing the western economic model and sought more information about the concept of free economy. Starting his career as the trustee of his father Salman bin Abdul Aziz on December 15, 2009, Muhammad Bin Salman assumed an exclusive status before the king and successfully got hold of significant appointments.
King Salman bin Abdul Aziz had to choose someone from his sons and nephews as his successor and he chose his nephew Nayef bin Abdul Aziz as a better option who was already performing his duties as the interior minister and the deputy prime minister. On April 29, 2015, Muhammad bin Nayef was declared the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. His appointment was considered the need of the hour as he enjoyed a privileged status before the Americans and the Pentagon. Moreover, he was also considered the “Good Man for America”. For nearly two years, Muhammad bin Nayef looked after the internal and external affairs of Saudi Arabia and in the same duration, Muhammad Bin Salman also had a very close eye on his competitor to the throne. Muhammad bin Salman tried to hit the master stroke and decided to come to good terms with the United States of America. He decided to establish good relations with Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and gradually started enjoying an exclusive status in the eyes of the Trump administration which had hitherto enjoyed by Muhammad bin Nayef.
Muhammad bin Salman’s recent tour to Pakistan proves that the bilateral ties between both the countries are far beyond any trade, investment and diplomatic concerns
On May 20, 2017, Donald Trump was given a very warm and historic welcome upon visiting Saudi Arabia and Israel on his first official tour. The Trump administration was in need of an energetic and young leadership in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, there was no better option than Muhammad bin Salman who had successfully lobbied with them by then. Soon it was conveyed to King Salman and hence Muhammad bin Nayef was dethroned and Muhammad bin Salman was declared as the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on June 21, 2017.
It is very important to mention Prince Waleed bin Talal, one of the fifty richest men in the world, who gave a very tough time to Donald Trump during the ups and downs of business matters. He had mocked his business rival during his presidential campaign and declared that Donald Trump could not even dream of becoming the president of the United States of America. In order to seek revenge from his erstwhile rival, Donald Trump asked Muhammad bin Salman to take action against the corrupt princes. Acting upon his directions, Muhammad bin Salman arrested forty-eight people including Prince Waleed bin Talal on charges of corruption on the 4th and 5th days of November 2017. All these events led to the strengthening of Muhammad bin Salman’s power and the world realised that he was backed by Trump when the latter praised Muhammad bin Salman in his tweets. On the same day Prince Mansoor bin Muqarran along with five other people died in a helicopter crash and the very next day Shah Fahad’s son Shah Abdul Aziz was killed in a resistance against his arrest on the charges of corruption. This incident was followed by the resignation of Lebanese Premier Saad Al Hareri which was declared an act under the American pressure by the leader of Hizb Ullah Hassan Nasrullah.
Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman through his insightful approach turned the tables upside down and proved that even the unacceptable can be made acceptable by altering the policies and playing smartly. The same narrative of change has brought our incumbent premier Imran Khan into power whose slogan of change is gaining popularity and acceptance nationwide. It can be seen now that in the international strategic horizon, Pakistan, China and Saudi Arabia’s sustenance and evolution cannot be ignored by any super power. This world is constantly changing and amidst this air of change, new alliances can be seen.
Keeping China’s interests aside, Muhammad bin Salman’s recent tour to Pakistan proves that the bilateral ties between both the countries are far beyond any trade, investment and diplomatic concerns and it can be opined that the desperate desire to prosperity and modernisation has brought the two countries together. On one side this closeness can be seen as a huge success for the Islamic world and on the other side it is no less than a challenge for the enemies of the Islamic bloc. The need of the hour is to observe how far the miraculous premier of Pakistan takes this relation and turns it into the affirmation of Pakistan’s supremacy over the other countries.
