Riyadh assures ‘steadfast support’ to Islamabad

The visit is being considered as a damage control exercise in the wake of the KL summit which Pakistan did not attend

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Thursday held crucial meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and other senior officials to extend Riyadh’s “steadfast support to Pakistan’s core national interests” including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) greater role in the Kashmir dispute.

The maiden visit of top Saudi diplomat, who was appointed in October, came against the backdrop of the recently concluded Kuala Lumpur Summit, which Riyadh viewed as an effort by Turkey, Malaysia, Iran and Qatar to create a new Islamic bloc.

Pakistan was supposed to attend the summit but withdrew at the eleventh hour over concerns expressed by Saudi Arabia and its Middle Eastern allies.

Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud calls on Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi was also present during the meeting #PMImranKhan pic.twitter.com/6zJLNZRRsf

— Prime Minister's Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) December 26, 2019

Islamabad defended its decision to pull out of the summit by saying that it wanted to maintain neutrality and play the role of a bridge in the Muslim world.



In recent months, Pakistan has tried to facilitate dialogue between Riyadh and Tehran. It also tried to bring Saudi Arabia and Malaysia on the same page on the Kuala Lumpur summit.

The Saudi foreign minister in his meetings with PM Imran and Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi appreciated Pakistan’s role in bringing regional peace and stability -- without directly mentioning its efforts to ease tensions within the Muslim countries.

However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan added to the controversy when he claimed that Saudis compelled Islamabad to stay away from the summit by threatening to send back four million Pakistani workers from the Kingdom and withdraw billions of dollars from the country’s central bank. Riyadh, however, dismissed the claim and insisted that it neither threatened nor stopped Pakistan.

The visit of the Saudi foreign minister, according to diplomatic sources, was part of the efforts to dispel the impression that Saudi Arabia used any strong-arm tactics or used its financial assistance as leverage against Pakistan.

PHOTO: EXPRESS

The two separate statements issued by the Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Office after the Saudi foreign minister’s meetings with Imran Khan and Qureshi highlighted the “special relationship” between Islamabad and Riyadh.

According to a handout issued by the PM’s Office, the Saudi minister conveyed the “most cordial greetings of His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the leadership and people of Pakistan as well as their deep appreciation for the role being played by Pakistan for regional peace and stability.”

Underscoring the key importance of the “core relationship” between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the Saudi minister conveyed the firm commitment of the Saudi leadership to further deepening of the fraternal ties and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, the statement read.

Prince Faisal also reaffirmed the resolve to deepen bilateral collaboration in all fields, including trade, investments, energy and tourism.

The minister reiterated Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Pakistan’s core national issues. The enhanced role of the OIC in the context of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute was also discussed.



He expressed the similar sentiments during his meeting with FM Qureshi. Prince Faisal underscored the importance that Saudi Arabia attached to its fraternal and strategic relationship with Pakistan.

He conveyed the Saudi leadership’s deep appreciation for the role played by Pakistan in maintaining regional peace and stability. He reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to a strong, prosperous and successful Pakistan and cementing ties with the country in all fields.

Both sides affirmed their commitment to maintain frequent high-level contacts and forge closer collaboration on bilateral matters and regional issues.
In his meeting with the Saudi minister, PM Imran underscored the special significance of the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relationship --based on close fraternal ties, historic links, and support at the gross-roots level.

He recalled the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in February this year and the depth and substance that it imparted to bilateral cooperation in diverse fields.

The premier appreciated the growing economic ties between the two countries and the Saudi commitment for investment in various sectors, particularly petrochemicals, mining and renewable energy.

PM Imran expressed the hope that a Saudi team for extending support to the development of the tourism sector would visit Pakistan soon as agreed with the crown prince during the prime minister’s recent visit to the Kingdom.
The prime minister highlighted the worsening human rights situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K).

He highlighted India’s discriminatory Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), pointing out that New Delhi was engaged in systematic efforts to marginalise and disenfranchise minorities, particularly Muslims.
The premier added that in addition, India’s belligerent actions on the Line of Control (LoC) were stoking further tensions and threatening regional peace and security.

He stressed the need for the international community to play its role in ensuring respect for the rights and freedom of the Kashmiri people, facilitating a just solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, and taking steps for the protection of minorities in India.
Separately, Foreign Minister Qureshi in his meeting with his Saudi counterpart dilated in detail on the situation in IOJ&K in the aftermath of India’s unilateral and illegal actions of August 5 this year.
He also highlighted the Indian government’s actions in connection with the CAA and the NRC and the systematic targeting of minorities in India, particularly Muslims. The foreign minister thanked his Saudi counterpart for the Kingdom’s support in the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir.