Pakistan

Any threat to Pakistan is unacceptable, Saudi King tells Gen Raheel

On official visit to KSA, army chief reiterates Pakistan's commitment to protection of Haramain Sharifain

Web Desk November 04, 2015

Army chief General Raheel Sharif meets Saudi King Salman in KSA on November 4, 2015. PHOTO: ISPR

Saudi King Prince Salman assured Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on Wednesday that any threat to Pakistan’s integrity would be unacceptable.

According to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), General Raheel, who is on a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), met with King Salman, the crown prince, as well as the Saudi defence minister on Wednesday.

#COAS with the Crown Prince and Def Min of KSA respectively pic.twitter.com/SfqxcBhiiQ
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

Saudi King&Crown Prince reassured COAS;consider any threat to Pak's integrity unacceptable,will support peace,stability in Pak-6
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

#COAS reiterated Pak's commitment to safety,protection of Harmain Ul Sharifain,territorial integrity of Kingdom-4 pic.twitter.com/KXF0uebRcw
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

The Saudi rulers said they held Pakistan and the Pakistan Army in high esteem, and the KSA supports peace and stability in the country. They also appreciated the achievements of Pakistan Army in its offensive against militants in Fata, operation Zarb-e-Azb.

“The COAS appreciated the growing counter-terrosim cooperation, intelligence sharing, limiting [the] space of terrorists and extremists in all domains, including choking [the] flow of funding,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, General Raheel reiterated Pakistan's commitment to the safety and protection of Haramain Sharifain, and the territorial integrity of the Saudi Kingdom.

The King,Crown Prince& Def Min said;they hold Pak&Pak Army in high esteem,also aprc the achievements of Pak Army in Operation Zarb-e-Azb-7
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

Saudi King&Crown Prince reassured COAS;consider any threat to Pak's integrity unacceptable,will support peace,stability in Pak-6
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

Along with discussing matters of mutual interest, bilateral defence and security cooperation between the two countries, the dignitaries acknowledged Pakistan and Saudi Arabia were significant players in regional stability with important responsibility towards the Muslim Ummah.

#COAS in KSA:Called on King Salman,Crown Prince,Def Minister.Matters of mutual interest,bilateral def,security coop discussed-1
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

Both dignitaries acknowledged; Pak&KSA are vital players in regional stability with significant responsibility towards Muslim Ummah-3
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

“Pakistan and KSA share great history of cordial relations, deep spirit of brotherhood which is transforming into an enduring partnership,” read the statement.

Leaders agreed;Pak&KSA share great history of cordial relations,deep spirit f brotherhood which transforming into enduring partnership-2
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

Both sides re-emphasised the need to join hands to eliminate terrorism and reinvigorate the mechanism to roll back extremism, the statement added.

Both sides re-emphasized on need to join hands to eliminate the menace of terrorism and reinvigorate the mechanism to roll back extremism-5
— Gen(R) Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimBajwaISPR) November 4, 2015

COMMENTS (35)

Dastagir Fikree | 8 years ago | Reply Another picture shows more clearly that the King is leaning forward but bending due to his old age. Besides, his facial expression has a prayerful demeanor. (He seems to be pleading.) See picture at: http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-203044-Army-Chief-discusses-counter-terror-cooperation-with-Saudi-leadership

Khasim | 8 years ago | Reply The treatment of Pakistan workers in Saudi Arabia reveal the real love Saudi Arabia had on Pakistan. Don't fool Pakistanis.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Dastagir Fikree | 8 years ago | Reply @Ravi: I don't like to use/abuse words like "crap" but although the Saudis do not treat Pakistani expatriates well (for some of this reaction Pakistanis are to blame) but government to government relations are quite different. As is common knowledge, Pakistan trains Saudis militarily and has often provided troops, sometimes retired ones, to help with Saudi security. Even know the Saudis would like to use our troops in Yemen but we won't allow that. But that does not mean that they would quit asking. All in all they need security assistance from Pakistan. In the picture, it is not just age since they King is not bending but leaning forward. More importantly look at the entreating (?) look on his face.

Ravi | 8 years ago | Reply @Dastagir Fikree: I don't get this crap that guy is old he can not sit straight , that does not mean he is listening, have you been to Saudi and saw how they treat Pakistanies like crap.

Ravi | 8 years ago | Reply @HZ: You guys forgot all the Saudi's help? by providing cheap Petrol and Diesel, and helping monetarily with nuke program and as recently free 1.5 Billion $$$$. And they asked you to join them in Yemen attack that is what you guys do nakharms?

ajeet | 8 years ago | Reply Why are the pro Pakistani statements always released by ispr and never by the respective countries?

Akbar | 8 years ago | Reply @Dastagir Fikree: ""I believe, now Saudis need Pakistan more than we need them. We are on the front foot"" We are not in the front foot, we are going to be their foot soldiers in Yemen. They are looking to rent an Army to do their work. After-all, Pakistan got millions, if not billions in Aid to right the Afghan war.

Charles | 8 years ago | Reply The day any Saudi sheds blood on behalf of Pakistan is the day I will eat my motorcycle. Ain't going to happen.

syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply What can Saudi King do in case of any threat to Pakistan except pouring money to create IS Daish Boko Harams. For the last seven months you and your allies are bombarding Yemen but you did not achieve any thing. Wherever thee is trouble Saudi hand will be there. Please King Sahib do not fool Pakistan

Zahid | 8 years ago | Reply Long Live Pakistan Saudi Arabia friendship General Raheel Sharif Zindabad

Different | 8 years ago | Reply @Charles: Two different situations, two different relationships. Too different comparisons

Skywalker | 8 years ago | Reply Seriously?? All this ummah talk has only brought wars in OIC. Keep on living in 7th century.

Charles | 8 years ago | Reply @Dastagir Fikree:

I believe, now Saudis need Pakistan more than we need them. We are on the front foot

Sounds like the comments that were posted when Pakistan decided to embargo the NATO supplies ... how did that turn out?

rome | 8 years ago | Reply Both are american stooges. Its a pity to see these two takling.

Dastagir Fikree | 8 years ago | Reply The picture tells the story. The COAS sits upright, whereas the King is in more of a "humble?" demeanor. I believe, now Saudis need Pakistan more than we need them. We are on the front foot. Well done Raheel Sharif.

Dastagir Fikree | 8 years ago | Reply Why are some people annoyed at the close relations between SA and Pakistan when these are not at the expense of our relations with other countries?

HZ | 8 years ago | Reply Ok its unacceptable understood. So what have you done so far to make a valuable contribution to stabilize Pakistan? Send some princes with money for illegal hunting?

American | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman: No Usman...it means that they will increase the funding...so that BOTH COAS and PM will come together to kow tow at the KIng's feet...

Jaffer Sheriff | 8 years ago | Reply By the by, is there any secret wife of Saudi King in Pakistan? Not a word against India or about Kashmir. Why COAS went to Saudi Arabia, a waste of expenditure.

Chagrin | 8 years ago | Reply @Ali S: Much to the chagrin of the Iranian lobby, Pakistan cannot forsake its relations with Saudi Arabia.

Raj - USA | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman: "Does this mean Saudi will stop funding Lashkhar e Jhangvi, TTP, and other jihadi groups in our backyard fighting to destabilize the state?" No. It just means the opposite and more funding for all these anti shia groups. Saudis see the threat to Pakistan's integrity coming from shia Iran only.

Alladitta | 8 years ago | Reply @Usman: No, none of these will happen.

Dastagir Fikree | 8 years ago | Reply @Ali S: We need to leverage the Saudis, that does not mean we are "the Saudis’ personal bodyguards."

Muhammad Ali | 8 years ago | Reply Army chief must visit Iran.Arab monarchies are going to meet their logical ends.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply @Alien1: any threat to Saudi Arabia will evoke strong response from Pakistan.” but, the saudis just say “any threat to Pakistan’s integrity would be unacceptable.” And any threat to both will be answere d by the United Sttes of America, says the little digital Pentagon watch? Rex Minor

Bucaneer | 8 years ago | Reply When Saudi Arabia and Pakistan talk about rooting out terrorism, the whole world laughs.

Usman | 8 years ago | Reply Does this mean Saudi will stop funding Lashkhar e Jhangvi, TTP, and other jihadi groups in our backyard fighting to destabilize the state?

Ali S | 8 years ago | Reply This is not a good sign. I thought that when we told the Saudis 'no' during the Yemen conflict it meant a new, more assertive kind of relationship with them - but seems like we're back to competing for who can bend over the most for them. And it's just sad to see our COAS personally meeting with the Saudi king - we are not the Saudis' personal bodyguards.

Akbar | 8 years ago | Reply Slave Mentality..

Dastagir Fikree | 8 years ago | Reply "Strong response" because Pakistan is capable of it. For SA, unacceptable means every support except sending forces to defend Pakistan.

Jibran | 8 years ago | Reply Both sides re-emphasized on need to join hands to eliminate the menace of terrorism and reinvigorate the mechanism to roll back extremism. What a loaded crap! Both sides have a history of creating, harboring, sponsoring, and promoting terrorism. Both know that they are lying.

Jibran | 8 years ago | Reply Saudi Arabia and its agents are the biggest threat to Pakistan.

Ashraf P | 8 years ago | Reply Why doesn't Saudi Arabia endorse Pakistan's point of view on Kashmir??

Naveed | 8 years ago | Reply Really?? Where were you during 65,71 n 99? Why don't you openly support our Kashmiri brothers? why have you signed business deals n defence pacts with India, who keep threatening Pakistan again n again..... you are unreliable. Only good at paying lip service

Alien1 | 8 years ago | Reply Few days ago raheel said "any threat to Saudi Arabia will evoke strong response from Pakistan." but, the saudis just say "any threat to Pakistan’s integrity would be unacceptable." is that the value of the muslim ummah's tekedhar.

Replying to X