Zardari meets Saudi king: ‘Pakistan supports political stability in the Middle East’
Within days of meeting with the Iranian leadership in Tehran, President Asif Ali Zardari flew to Jeddah to meet Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, in what appears to be an attempt by Pakistan to maintain friendly ties with both Middle Eastern rivals.
The president’s spokesperson, Farhatullah Babar, said that President Zardari was on a two-day trip to Saudi Arabia and would meet with Saudi officials to discuss bilateral ties. The president is accompanied by Interior Minister Rehman Malik, who was also with him on his visit to Iran.
Leaders from the two countries discussed bilateral ties, the security situation in the Middle East and South Asia and the fight against militancy.
President Zardari said that Pakistan favoured political stability in the Middle East and was against the use of violence. His statement appears to be a reference to the recent turmoil in the region that has seen three authoritarian leaders ousted and another three threatened by an increasingly vociferous opposition.
While Pakistan has so far remained unaligned in the unrest, Pakistani private security companies have sent mercenaries to Bahrain in order to assist the government of that country crack down on protestors, much to the chagrin of Iran, which had diplomatically supported the uprising.
The visit to Jeddah comes on the heels of President Zardari’s whirlwind tours of Iran and Afghanistan during which he held series of meetings with Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
Ties between Riyadh and Tehran have been strained since the 1979 revolution in Iran. Pakistan has tried maintaining friendly relations with both countries, though it has not always been successful. Saudi Arabia has, on several occasions, made its displeasure known to Islamabad whenever it felt that Pakistan was drifting too close to Iran.
Before President Zardari left for Tehran on Saturday, he was visited by the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, Abdulaziz Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer, a meeting that was made significant by its timing.
Yet President Zardari has, in the past, quietly ignored Saudi protests, attending an anti-terrorism summit in Tehran earlier this year, despite Saudi objections.
As a gesture of goodwill towards Pakistan, Saudi authorities approved the credentials of Pakistan’s new ambassador to the kingdom, Muhammad Naeem Khan, within hours of his arrival in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Later, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Naif Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud hosted a reception in honour of President Zardari.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2011.
COMMENTS (36)
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@ Dallas Ali
Well said said. Well said.
@King Khan: This forum is for free expression. If it is true speak up! Democracy works with lobbying the legislature.
Most of the current problems in Muslim world have been bought about by their deceitful & incompetent leader, who have done nothing except looted the treasury. The problems have not been created by India, Israel, US or Jews. I regret you have chosen a prejudice path, that is why Pakistan is lagging behind India and most of the world. Pakistan as a nation needs to overcome them & be united against the fanatics. Pakistan needs to develop is policy to be good to its neighbors i.e. India, Iran and Afghanistan as Islam teaches us that.
Saudi's have not bought anything to the table except extremism, violence and bigotry. Read about Wiki leaks as to how Saudi corrupt leadership degrades Pakistan in their communications with West.
Do remember on 9/11; 15 out of 19 murderers were Saudi's. I can't wait for Spring 2012!! and see more dictators fall.
@Fahad Zafar
You've probably not been following current affairs too closely. Saudi's are the ones who have been trying very hard to meet with the President. Btw, Rehman Malik met the King a month or two ago. You probably think that happens often.
@Confused Pakistani: If you recall the last time Nawaz Sharif was PM he went on state trips in Shalwar Kameez and Sherwani but why shouldn't he also go wearing a lungi. After all the only Pakistani winner of the Nobel prize in physics went to collect his award in traditional Pakistani attire including a lungi. He was the smartest man in the world in physics at the time and he was not only well received in native attire but well respected. If you dislike Pakistani dress, you have your own issues to settle.
All you Pakistanis pleas be carful when you comment on both our muslin brotherly country’s Iran and Saudi because so many enemy’s are also commenting here Please don’t be fooled by there fake Muslim names India and Israel has teem up against Pakistan and there fealty agent are frequently visiting those sites to see What we Pakistanis are thinking Jews in America are the biggest support for India and they are lobbing for India and for Arabs Always keep in minds that enemy’s friend is an enemy so if Israel is an enemy than India is no friend to Arabs or Muslims.
@ Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
before you defend Saudi Arabia and before you start insulting people, let me remind you something, Islam does NOT permit kings and inhering thrones. Inf act, Islam is against the system under your beloved Saudi Arabia operates
I dare to differ with Dr Siddiqi. The evil that goes on in SA is anarchic, some of my American friends were importing liquor under generic names and bottling them locally because they had some royal connections, these imports would come in through ARAMCO ports, where there is almost NO customs inspection. Moreover this evil regime does not even treats its own citizens equally if their beliefs are not the same as Wahhabi. A quick drive to Easter province will be an eye opener. Their justice system is made only for 3rd world expatriates, the justice served to the them is appalling. If they do that to a US Citizen the criminals and looter who are serving the justice will not rule too long.
Best hope for all of us is next spring.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: Mister your too much talking and writing does not mean that you really say something!
I notice Dr. Saleem Siddiqi's comment has maximum recommenations (despite large number of indians visiting this news site, which is one of few "liberal" Pakistani newspapers). Gives some idea what "majority" of Pakistanis really think.
@Dinesh Chetti: Since you are from Hindu religion, I will not tell you anything and you too have no rights to comments on our religion.
Allah says in Quran that follow Quran and Rasool [Prophet SAW]. Saudis only follow Quran an follow this instructions of Allah. Enemies of Islam term this as a Wahabi-ism. If following Allah's instructions is lebelled as Wahabism, I am thousand and Millions times proud to be a Wahabee.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi Johannesburg South Africa
Dear Dr. Siddiqui, While you were sleeping over the last three decades Saudi has directly or indirectly sponsored the killings of more Muslims than anyone .....start with the internet Iam sure you will be enlightened... also you gave them the right to becomes Khadims of the Holy cities ....Col T E Lawrence ....and we are supposed to respect that ....amazing !
Shalvaar is not a native Sindhi or Panjabi dress. their native dress is lungee or dhotee. Same goes for most of the other parts of today's India. Shalvaar for women and pajama for men came to india, including Punjab and Sindh, with Muslims.
Excellent Visit. Both Riyadh and Tehran are important to our foreign policy. While both are repressive regimes, theories of "Wahabiism" and "shia extremism" don't necessarily need to guide our foreign policy, it is the national interest that should be supreme and that demands a closer bond with both Tehran and Riyadh!
@Confused Pakistani: I rather like the Sindi Topi and outfit. It reminds the world that Al Sind is an old and respected land. To belittle Pakistani dress shows that some people are confused more.
@Emmon Khan: How is that?
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: We have a proverb in Urdu, "neem hakim wabale jaan"......! Defining Saudi Arabia from a brief haj visit is just like describing China from a map! My dear there is a law of nature, "every phenomenon has an opposite phenomenon". It means in this context, that if Islam is the ultimate divine light, then the people of this peninsula, on whom it was revealed, were the ultimate darkness! P.s. As a school boy I have been several times in Dammam, where my father worked 30 long years. Kuch samje aap? They had the same apartheid system as once in South Africa or the United States. kul-o-maskeen
@Mirza: Baseless accusations. Simply secular rant just to please western masters. It has become custom to blame other nations for your internal failures. Remember Rehman Malik's statement regarding Israeli weapons.
Saudi is the WRONG TURN for Pakistan at this critical stage like it always has been!
@ Dr. Saleem Siddiqi,
We need to distance ourselves from every element that supports militancy in our state, whether its inhouse, or abroad like in saudi arabia or in iran, or india and israel (already quite distant).
Its the time when we stop following double standards just for the sake of loans and funds. I am by no means saying that the dialogue process should be cut off but these states should be made clear of our stand against terrorism. Pakistan has already become literally the battlefield for others' interests.
@ Dr.Saleem Siddiqi: You need to broaden your horizon on International relations.
@Confused Pakistani... Sindhi dress is as beautiful as dresses in other parts of Pakistan. Does'nt make any difference as it's a manifestation of Indus valley civilization, which is present day Pakistan.
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: the entire world knows how saudi exported wahabism to poor muslim countries, if saudi is custodian of two mosque does not give the right to terrorize ?
Is Sindhi topi and Kurta Shalwar national dress of Pakistan? Tomorrow God forbid Nawaz Sharif becomes Prime Minster would it be ok for him to go on an official visit in lunghi!
@Dr. Saleem Siddiqi: "Johannesburg, Saudi Arabia"
Ironically, very true. South Africa was just like Saudia sometime back.
@Mirza: Since when Saudi Arabia has become source of terrorism. On the contrary, they mind their own business and largely are truly Khadmain and Shareefain and working hard to improve Islam ast large.
Major part of their Oil income is invested on Western Part of Saudi Arabia more specifically around Mecca and Medina to benefit incoming Hajis and other pilgrims.
I remember visiting Saudi Arabia for Pilgramage in 1973 and when I visited recently, there is a lot and lot of difference. May Allah give Jaza to the rullers who are really doing Khidmat of Islam at large.
On the other hand Saudi Arabia is also fighting war against terror and is found either fighting or killing odd terrorists on their soil.
No body wants to promote terrorism these days. Therefore, lebelling a false tag on them is highly refuted and condemned.
Regards
Dr. Saleem Siddiqi
Johannesburg Saudi Arabia
can't pak say directly to ksa or iran to stay out of its foreign policies .... here in india we take arms from israel and oil from ksa .... no one dares to question us !!
Oh what the hell, why won't these two Middle-Eastern rivals let us Pakistanis stay neutral in this new cold war? I guess it's only because of the nukes.
Good development. Talking with Turkey, Iran, Saudia, Afghanistan and China for regional peace. End game is near for US which is over stretched logistically fighting 6 wars with treasury running out of money.
Good going Mr.President. we need good relations with Tehran and Riyad. infact good relations with each and every country.
The last thing in the world Pakistan needs is to deepen bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia. Our relationship with Saudi Arabia has been just as damaging as the one with America.
Did the king ask about Zardari's trip to Tehran?
Saudis are the source of most of Pakistan's problem. We have to distance ourselves from this source of terrorism and stop all Saudis from interfering in Pakistani affairs.
Finally, King Abdullah agree's to meet Zardar & company after two years....