High-level visit: Saudi foreign minister arrives in Pakistan

Will likely seek Islamabad’s support over Syria.

ISLAMABAD:

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal arrived in the federal capital on Monday on a two-day official trip to hold talks with the Pakistani leadership on key bilateral, regional and international issues.

This is the first visit by any top Saudi official to Pakistan since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif came to power in June last year following his party’s thumping win in the parliamentary polls.

According to the Foreign Office, the Saudi foreign minister will meet President Mamnoon Hussain, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and hold formal talks with PM’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. He is also expected to meet key religious leaders at a reception to be hosted by the prime minister.

Prime Minister Nawaz, who has close ties with Saudi rulers, is likely to seek Riyadh’s support for brokering a peace deal with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). A senior security official said Saudi Arabia should play ‘positive role’ in the government’s peacemaking efforts.



Foreign Office officials said that besides bilateral matters, the two countries would also discuss the regional situation, including developments related to Afghanistan.

The Saudi foreign minister is visiting at a time when Riyadh is upset over its failure to convince the world powers for military action against the Syrian regime.

Sources said the Saudi foreign minister would seek Pakistan’s support on Syria. Islamabad, however, has so far adopted a more neutral stance and opposed outside intervention to resolve the crises.

His trip also led to speculation in the media about the possible role of the Saudis in seeking a ‘safe passage’ for former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

The government, however, strongly dismissed such reports claiming that his visit was planned much ahead of the developments related to Musharraf.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 7^th, 2014.