Saudi Arabia’s new foreign minister on maiden Pakistan visit

Prince Faisal bin Farhan, who assumed charge of Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry recently, visited Islamabad on Thursday on his maiden visit to Pakistan. The kingdom and Pakistan enjoy a deep-rooted and longstanding fraternal relationship where the personal rapport between leaders is an essential ingredient. Since becoming head of government in August last year, Prime Minister Imran Khan has paid four visits to the kingdom. In an ever-evolving regional scenario, mutual consultations, at regular intervals, have become a necessity.

 Wide-ranging Saudi-Pakistan relations, like a rainbow, are multi-colored. From spiritual to material, these cover commercial ties, investments, project assistance and humanitarian aid, as and when required. But the fulcrum of bilateral ties is mutual cooperation for strengthening regional peace and security. Joint military exercises between the two armed forces are a regular feature. Both nations are fully committed to fighting extremism in all its forms and manifestations. Their location in one region makes Saudi Arabia and Pakistan natural partners in their quest for peace and security. Located close to the Strait of Hormuz, Pakistan has a vital role cut out for it in terms of maritime security, which is also of vital importance to the Kingdom.

 Foreign media has tried to create the perception that the visit was a damage control exercise, saying Pakistan’s abrupt decision to not participate in the Kuala Lumpur Islamic Summit earlier this month might have resulted from direct pressure from the kingdom. Both countries have denied this. Indeed, the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is so special, that use of pressure tactics have no room here. It is also a fact that there was a perception among some Gulf countries that the KL summit could result in further divisions in the Muslim World. At a time when fissures within the Islamic world are increasing, Pakistan wants to steer clear of all controversies and play its coveted role for reconciliation, at a later stage.

Prince Faisal also called on Prime Minister Khan in the presence of Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureishi. It was not merely a courtesy call but an occasion to discuss a whole gamut of matters of mutual interest. Earlier, the two foreign ministers had a one-on-one meeting. It was after that meeting that Qureshi thanked the leadership of the kingdom for its continued support on Kashmir. Kashmir is rightly called a nuclear flashpoint posing a grave danger to world peace.

The situation within India is precarious as people are protesting against the passage of a hugely controversial citizenship act. This is not only discriminatory toward Muslims but also violates the spirit and substance of the Indian constitution. This act says that only non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan will be considered for Indian citizenship. Meanwhile, almost daily shelling continues along the Line of Control, the de facto border between India and Pakistan which separates Indian-administered Kashmir from Azad Kashmir. Pakistan thinks India is preparing for bigger strikes into the Pakistani side of Kashmir, in order to divert attention from the violent protests back home. 

Such high-level visits have both a substantive and symbolic value. On the symbolic side, the visit depicted the importance that Saudi Arabia attaches to its relations with Pakistan. On the substantive side, both countries consult each other on a regular basis in order to update their policy responses on various issues. This relationship will bloom further for the benefit of our region and the Muslim Ummah.

• Javed Hafeez is a former Pakistani diplomat with much experience of the Middle East. He writes weekly columns in Pakistani and Gulf newspapers and appears regularly on satellite TV channels as a defense and political analyst.

Twitter: @hafiz_javed