ISLAMABAD, 2 February 2006 — President Gen. Pervez Musharraf yesterday honored Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah by conferring on him the country’s highest civilian award, Nishan-e-Pakistan. The award was given at a colorful ceremony attended by top officials of both countries.
Addressing the function, King Abdullah emphasized the strong brotherly relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He hoped the current Indo-Pak peace talks would lead to desired results. “A just settlement of the Kashmir issue will reinforce regional peace and stability,” the king told the gathering.
Abdullah said he had discussed the issue of Kashmir with Indian leadership. The king stressed the need for promoting economic and scientific cooperation between the OIC member countries. He also thanked the people of Pakistan for giving him a rousing welcome on arrival.
Musharraf also underscored the historic Saudi-Pak ties. “Both countries always stood by each other during every test and trial,” he said. Saudi Arabia offered SR500 million in emergency financial aid for Pakistan to rebuild infrastructure facilities in areas hit by a devastating earthquake in October.
“Our friendship is constant and transcends the changing international environment and expediency of international politics. We maintain and consolidate our cooperation with Saudi Arabia as a cherished value of our foreign relations,” the president said.
Musharraf said Abdullah’s visit would provide new impetus to the strategic partnership between the two countries. He noted the king’s role in organizing the recent Islamic summit in Makkah, which he added could become “a defining moment” in the efforts to bring unity and harmony to the Muslim world.
Referring to the Kashmir issue, Musharraf hoped that the improved Indo-Pak relations and a conducive international environment would provide “a unique opportunity to address this longstanding issue in a manner acceptable to all parties, especially the people of Kashmir.”
Musharraf believed that King Abdullah’s visit to New Delhi would boost the peace process. “Your strong and constant commitment toward the resolution of the Kashmir dispute reflects your abiding support for just causes and your deep concern and compassion for Muslims in distress and struggling for their inalienable rights,” he pointed out.
The president reiterated his country’s commitment to fight terror. “More than ever before, we need to work for harmony among diverse faiths and cultures at the global level and counter prejudices against Islam and Muslims,” he said. He called for rooting out extremism in Muslim societies through education and reforms.
Abdullah’s talks with Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will focus on strengthening cooperation in the war against terror and expanding trade ties.
The talks will also cover major issues such as Palestine, Iraq and Iran’s nuclear program.
In a reflection of the strong ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Musharraf and Aziz personally received the king at the airport.
Islamabad was virtually shut down yesterday and King Abdullah’s route from the airport was decorated with giant billboard portraits of him, Musharraf and Aziz and huge welcome messages stretched across motorway bridges.
Hundreds of thousands of people of the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad waited along the road to welcome the king. Islamabad was turned into more like a carnival center. Hundreds of horsemen took positions from Chaklala Air Base to the highway leading to Main Avenue facing the Presidency headquarters.
Thousands of schoolchildren lined up at all the main points where the royal motorcade passed by with baskets of rose petals. Brass bands of Pakistan Army’s traditional regiments were stationed between Chaklala Air Base and Punjab House where the king was to reside. Camel riders were stationed at the Jinnah Avenue to cheer their Saudi guests.
Chairman of the Capital Development Authority had made arrangements to have the federal capital a festive look. Hundreds of men attired in the traditional dress of Punjab, Sindh, North Western Frontier Province and Balochistan stood in groups near the airport, along the highway, the Convention Center, Constitution Avenue, the Parliament and the Presidency and the Punjab House to give color to the ceremonial welcome.
Every tree in the twin cities was glittering with colorful lights. Not in the history of Pakistan has there been so much enthusiasm witnessed to wake and wait for a guest whom the people of Pakistan acknowledged “a friend in need” and all the more his being the custodian of two holy mosques in Makkah and Madinah.
State-controlled Pakistan Television deployed its main three outdoor broadcasting units and digital satellite newsgathering units at vital points with an army of cameramen to telecast the arrival ceremony, state reception, and his journey to Punjab House, which is located in the foothills of Margallah range. Other private channels like GEO, ARY ONE, AAJ, APNA, Business Plus, Indus, KTN and Sindh were leading their top of the hour news bulletins with the royal visit.
The national television channel canceled its usual programs and devoted hours of blanket coverage to the visit.
The king is leading a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Prince Muqrin, head of the general intelligence, senior Cabinet members and a large number of businessmen.
“The leaders of the two countries will discuss bilateral relations, the evolving regional security situation and international issues of mutual interest,” said Pakistan’s official spokeswoman Tasnim Aslam.
She said the two sides would sign five agreements for cooperation in political consultation, science and technology, avoidance of double taxation and cooperation in technical and vocational education.
Saudi Ambassador Ali Asseeri said the visit was “a reaffirmation of the long, historical and fraternal ties between the two countries.”
The ambassador said Iran’s nuclear standoff would be discussed during the king’s meetings with Pakistani leaders. Islamabad has repeatedly stressed the need to use dialogue in order to settle the Iranian nuclear controversy.
Asseeri said the king’s visit to India was in the wake of global changes and would not affect Saudi Arabia’s relationship with Pakistan.
“Kashmir is one of the most important topics on the agenda, especially after the king’s visit to New Delhi,” an informed source said. He added that Pakistan appreciated the king’s initiatives on the matter.
During the current Asian tour, Abdullah also visited China, India and Malaysia. Yesterday, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described the king’s visit as a “landmark development”. Saudi Arabia and India signed 15 agreements, including a landmark energy pact.
“We discussed many aspects of our multi-faceted relationship and we agreed we must cooperate in dealing with terrorism, we agreed that we must strengthen our relationship to promote greater stability in energy supplies and we also agreed that we must create an environment where more Saudi investment can be attracted to India,” Manmohan Singh said.
