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Riyadh helped thaw the frost in Islamabad
Sources say meeting at the Saudi embassy helped lower tensions.
Political observers say mediation between the civilian and military authorities of Pakistan by Saudi Arabia is not surprising because not only the kingdom, but also its monarch King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz holds great sway amongst Pakistan’s political and military elite. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD: The road from Islamabad to Rawalpindi goes through Riyadh, especially in times of crisis.
Influential royals from the Middle East were once again at work last week, defusing the escalating standoff between the civilian dispensation and the military, say sources privy to last week’s dramatic developments. And the backdoor manoeuvres are already producing results, they add.
It was at a midnight-to-dawn meeting at the Saudi embassy on the night between Wednesday and Thursday last week that helped both the civilian and the military leadership to withdraw from their maximalist positions.
Hosted by Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz bin Ibrahim Saleh al Ghadeer, the reconciliatory huddle was attended by top civilian and military leadership, including individuals who had been at each other’s neck, insiders said.
The meeting took place after a charged day of barbed exchanges between the government and the military. The army publicly rebuked the prime minister for his remarks on the army and intelligence chief’s replies to the Supreme Court in the Memogate case; the premier sacked the defence secretary, a retired general purportedly close to the General Headquarters.
While there was no confirmation on who, on behalf of the military, attended the Saudi-backed gathering, at least one source said it was none other than Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani.
Officials from the civilian intelligence agency deployed on the road leading to the compound of the Saudi embassy told The Express Tribune that they saw the protocol and security motorcade of a four-star general in the area.
The tinted glasses of the bulletproof Land Cruisers, however, made it impossible to see who was in the vehicle.
It was also not known who represented the government at the meeting but some officials said those in attendance were close aides of President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani. They might have been the same aides negotiating with the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on a political way out of the current crisis, sources add.
The latter half of the week bore testament to Riyadh’s assistance. The army chief had a one-on-one meeting with the president and the prime minister praised the military, reassuring that he respected it as an institution, but advised it to “work within its constitutional confines.”
Political observers say mediation between the civilian and military authorities of Pakistan by Saudi Arabia is not surprising because not only the kingdom, but also its monarch King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz holds great sway amongst Pakistan’s political and military elite.
Saudis, they add, have always played a significant role in civilian-military negotiations, citing the deal between former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, when the former went into exile in 2000, and returned to Pakistan in 2007.
When contacted, however, Information Minister Firdous Ashiq Awan denied that such a meeting ever took place.
“We respect leaders from across the world for supporting democracy in Pakistan … but we can handle our internal issues ourselves,” the minister added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2012.
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Reader Comments (53)
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Why on God’s earth do we listen to that kingdom? They treat Pakistanis stupid enough to go there like crap. Our best interest and their’s dont coincide.Recommend
Emergency help lines:
1. Military and non military aid – USA
2. Security threat – China
3. Internal disputes – Saudi Royals
4. Suicide hotline – Afghanistan
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One wonders if the Headquarter of Pakistan is in London, Washington. Dubai or Riyadh.Recommend
While i don’t support Saudis in their foreign policy but credit should be given where it is due.
Thank You KSA for the needed stability of the democratic setup
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enough of Saudi Arabia! They just happen to have the central cities of Islam inside their territory, and that is it! They are a monarchy, they deny women their rights and their foreign policy is made by a bunch of princes who don’t have a worry in the world, except for of-course bowing down to whatever the super powers tell them to do. Get over looking at Saudi Arabia as a “leader” of Muslim countries. The Saudi Arabia of today isn’t what it was 1400 years ago. There is no “Ummah”; it’s every country for itself in this turmoil. Save yourselves and stop these Saudis meddling around in our affairs.
Oh and did I sarcastically say a big thank you to the Shareef brothers for involving these Arabs in Pakistan’s internal affairs? No? Well, they don’t even deserve a sarcastic thank you, i guess!
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@Amir:
Good one Amir!
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It is distasteful for a nuclear-armed Pakistan to bow to such a reprehensible foreign dictatorship.
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A foreign country (Saudi Arab) helped solve the problem arisen due to SOS call to a foreign country (US). I am disgusted over the self-righteous hypocricy of powers that be.
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Still ruled by the Arabs.
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Thank you KSA for the much needed and timely help to the Civilian Government and for preventing another Military Takeover at least for some time.
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Thank you Saudi Arabia. After 65 years of independence, if we still need outside help to resolve our domestic disputes and money to slow our slide towards bankruptcy, then blame rests entirely upon us. Empty stomachs don’t think nice things, Please forgive us for harsh words.
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Eii! They are poison! One needs to stay as far away from them as possible. But, I guess another example of their oil imperialism.
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@Pakistani Agnostic:
Yes, Saudis are the biggest supporters of democratic set ups !!! ( only outside KSA).
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Article in UK’s Guardian claims that Asif Zardari has agreed to early elections. Its around 3am in UK but as yet Tribune has still not carried the story. Anyone else has heard anything ?
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and Express Tribune: why no news about The Saudi China deal on Nuclear co-operation and biggest Oil Refinery deal……This is a very important news for those of us who want to see the west and westoxification erased from Muslim lands.
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@Amir:
Hilarious.
No. 5. Prank calls hotline – India
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Getting advise from Saudi Arabia on Democracy. What a joke
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Democracy in Pakistan is apparently a consensus between the Americans, the Brits, the Chinese, the Saudis, the Emiratis and the Qataris.
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We need to put a stop to this foreign interventions into the political affairs of our country. Its a violation of the sovereignty of the Pakistan, whether it is the US meddling or the Saudis. We would never really be sovereign if we pick and chose who meddles and who does not. We have suffered enough and continue to suffer for a lot of meddling done by Saudi Kingdom, thank you very much! How about you concentrate on letting women drive in your country first!
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How low we have stooped that these clowns are dictating us
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I wish Saudis could advise them to do at least something for common citizens as well.
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Beggars can’t be choosers. KSA has every right to speak in our matters for they provide employment to 2 million Pakistanis ( and many illegals), provided oil with deferred payments when we needed it (1998) and also provided billions of dollars worth of investment and free aid.
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so its overt now…..
british were behind the civilian standoff and americans fought back through “as usual” military leadership
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@American Muse:
Without internal strength, nuclear weapons are just a liability.
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Mike Mullen is not allowed to help the Government, but King Abdullah can do so, is it?
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@Amir:
One of the best comment ever.
Baloochistan, kashmir, afganistaan hotline :- Blame India/Israel/Amricaaa.
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we should be in our eastern block – south asian – and not tend towards the middle east. Our wounds comes from the later and not the first.
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If the Saudi’s are such ardent supporters of democracy, why don’t they implement it in their own country. The height of hypocrisy. This filthy system being conducted by our current government which is being termed a democracy is in itself an insult to this political ideology.
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Democracy – that is a joke in Pakistan. Army is fighting and elected government and both kowtow to a foriegn government.
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Pakistanis would listen to only dictators and Kings, especially if they are rich.
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So much criticism of KSA for what .. helping pakistan ? giving billions in aid without any return unlike USA … highgest donater during the earth quake and the floods … with Saudi Public donating over SAR500 million in two days during the last floods … how sad are we ,,, and did they jump into the conflict or were invited !! Taking care of interest of friends is what “real friends” do. And who are we to crticise Saudi government which for last 5 years has been spending 80% of their budget of education, health and infrastructure !!!
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The news that Saudi Arabia has mediated to bring about reconciliation between the civil and military authorities does not bode well for democracy in Pakistan. The last time such intervention took place was during Shaheed Zulfikar Bhutto’s talks with the Mullahs in 1977. And look what happened? Not only was Democracy derailed for more than a decade but one of our greatest Prime Ministers was assassinated or rather judicially murdered. One therefore feels apprehensive of the optimism that your story displays.
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Our Elite has to listen to them, Otherwise Our PIA will running short of Oil, Currently KSA is the only country which gives unconditionally Credit on Oil purchase for PIA and other institution. So, first stand om your feet than discuss about sovereignty and integrity. For liberals its America and For Islamist its Saudis.
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@HollyCow: Well said
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Danish, give me a break.
Pakistan is steaming with Saudi intelligence, Their academic curricula which negates the local relatives and creates monsters.
And keep in mind there is no such thing as a free lunch.
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shame on us that we seek help from people who are themselves helpless.
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The Saudis should be the last ones to talk to Pakistanis about rule of law or the constitution or how to handle domestic disputes. We know how corrupt Arab regimes deal with internal disputes and how much respect the Arabs have for the sanctity of democracy or constitutions. Look at Syria, Yemen, Bahrain or the recent problems of Egypt, Libya and Tunisia.
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@ Muhammad
Please refute my arguments with facts … didn’t KSA provide free Oil when the world put sanctions on Pak in 1998 and directed investments into Pakistan … don’t they provide 2 million Pak with employment a big source of foreign exchange, weren’t they the biggest donors when Pakistan was hit with earthquake and floods … and as far as Islam and other issues are consider please tell me how are we better than any nation ? And where did you get the Idea of their education system, they have the one of the most advance University in Asia now, with literacy rate jumping nearly 19% over the last 3 years !! We should stop blaming others even USA for our ills cause we as a nation is corrupt and until we stand on Our feet we should not demand sovereignty
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@ Imran, well said. Sadly this is the way of Pakistani politicians always on a tangential course. One wonders why the country is called Paksitan and not Tangent-istan since Pakistanis agree to disagree.
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20 million Saudi Arabs must be feeling proud to see 180 million Pakistanis dying to be their slaves.
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I suggest Islamabad should be renamed to:
IslamRiyaton
Islam from Islamabad
Riya from Riyadh.
ton from Washington and London
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@Yuri Kondratyuk:
Nuclear Weapons is the reason India didn’t dared to launch an attack and kept america in uncomfortable position. so definitely not a liability
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Reply to Patriotic….with due respect….do we respect our women folks…?? ask the women from the rural areas & under feudal / tribal influence especially….?? day in day out, there are reports of repressions on account of ” honor killings / karakari / property etc; “….
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@HollyCow:
how so?
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@American Muse:
and it is worthwhile to bow to US or get bombed to middle ages? where is the difference? at least no such threat emanate from KSA
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@Danish Khan:
dont worry …most of the adverse commets are from my fellow indians who are biased and dont want to see any thing positive about pakistan and its relations with other countries….its sad but true. i may face flak for my comment (may raise doubt about my identity) but fact is fact.
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@Danish Khan:
Dear Danish Khan sahib, not only KSA, but USA, Pakistan’s “forever-friend” China and many Muslim nations in the Middle East have spoiled Pakistan by showering it with free dole. Now Pakistan has reached a stage where it can’t earn its own keep! If US cuts aid, they run to China, if China is miserly, they rush to KSA, but never say “We will earn & spend”! That is why Pakistan’s sovereignty has become a laughing matter.
Why Pakistan should need outside help when hit by quakes & floods? Do the Pakistanis know that India politely declined all outside help when hit by tsunami? Why can’t Pakistan emulate India in areas where India has performed creditably. India is not Pakistan’s enemy but its only genuine friend. When will Pakistan understand this?
Why Pakistan needs free oil even after 60+ years of independence?
Hope Pakistan proudly refuses all dole from now on, stands on its own feet and stands proud amongst comity of nations. It can take loans which it must repay, but no dole. If India has done it successfully & so can Pakistan. If Pakistan seeks India’s hand in friendship, it will get genuine friendship from us! So wake up & do what you must do. It is still not too late!
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@antanu g:
Antanu-ji, please don’t mislead Pakistanis like this! They may believe your words & advice and continue taking dole which they should stop doing. I can’t call you Pakistan’s friend!!
Dole from any country is bad irrespective of whether USA or KSA or PRC or any of the oil-rich Middle-East Kingdoms!
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The rule of dictators suits these “Oil Companies”. Our country has suffered enough through the Sons Of the Kingdom ( our politicians and BOYs). No need to import or export each others ideas.
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@Danish Khan:
I agree we should stop blaming others, and criticizing them for how they racially mistreat their women or our Pakistani expats is unnecessary ad hominem based on domestic issues not foreign relations.
However, while the financial assistance is all true, and their own institutional development, they have left a devastating lingering negative effect contributing to local ills thanks to their exported ideology.
The Wahhabification of Pakistan from the 80′s still haunts us today.
Everything from our local religious bigotry and extremism, be it in our own laws or the scourge of militancy, up to how they shape our relations with next door neighbour Iran (wanting us to reject gas pipeline and electricity from Iran), even dictating us on nuclear foreign policy.
Or their earlier cold approach and unenthusiastic relations with our President, simply based on sectarian prejudice (as revealed per Wikileaks on their preference for Nawaz Sharif, not because he is any less corrupt or less incompetent).
Yes, it is mostly our leaders, such as Gen. Zia, and citizens’ faults for many of Pak’s ills today. However, KSA, certainly did not help in this regards.
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Actually it was US acting through its puppet.
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Riyadh? Is that a misprint for Washington?
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my point is we should look at ourselves before criticising others; we as a nation are no angels … all countries work according their interest sadly we work acording to the interests of USA …
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