In a major diplomatic snub to Pakistan, the titular ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, refused to meet with Pakistan Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa who was also accompanied by the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Faiz Hameed.
This is the first time a Pakistani army chief did not get an audience with the Saudi ruler, the reason being the outburst and threat given by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The close bilateral ties between the two Islamic countries took a hit after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi issued a warning to Saudi Arabia that it better call for a Foreign Minister-level meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Countries on Kashmir.
Qureshi is known to make off the cuff remarks and make outlandish statements. However, this time it seems he has gone too far. Speaking on the first anniversary of revocation of Article 370 by India, Qureshi showed his absolute contempt for Saudi Arabia for not backing Pakistan over the issue of ‘organising’ a meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir.
He further exacerbated the situation when he said, “Pakistan would be compelled to convene a meeting of Islamic countries that are ready to stand with it on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiri Muslims”.
“Today Pakistan is, who are always ready to sacrifice their lives for Mecca and Madina, need Saudi Arabia to play a leading role on the Kashmir issue. If they are not willing to play that role, then I will ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to go ahead with or without Saudi Arabia,” ANI had quoted him as saying.
However, Bajwa is considered as the last word when it comes to Pakistan’s national security and foreign affairs and he knows that the money sent by in remittance from this country is the lifeline for millions of Pakistanis.
The immediate response from Saudi came when it asked for the repayment of loan taken by Pakistan. To make the payment Pakistan took a loan of one billion dollars from China what many experts call the falling of Pakistan into China’s pitcher plant. The loan given by Saudi Arabia was part of a USD 6.2 billion package announced by Saudi in November 2018.
This will be an important trip for Gen Bajwa because the Saudis will never tolerate any country that will try to undermine its authority with regards to the OIC. The headquarters of the OIC is in Saudi Arabia which is also home to the two most important and holy mosques of Mecca and Medina.
If it was a cardinal sin to attack and threaten Saudi Arabia, the matter was further complicated when Qureshi also attacked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for not supporting Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir.
Bajwa will have to do a fine balancing act when he would have met with senior Saudi officials because more than a quarter of remittance that Pakistan receives from its expatriates comes from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From the UAE, Pakistan receives $4.6 billion in remittances.
As per protocol, it is the duty of Imran Khan to meet with the Saudis but in Pakistan, the fear was if Imran had gone and the crown prince had refused to meet with him, it would have caused more embarrassment.
It has been two years since Imran Khan became what many call the chosen one and the mess he leaves behind for his country seems to have no end. Pakistan has time and again failed to pursue its agenda on Kashmir and now it has gone on to jeopardise its relationship with its own brotherhood countries.
Saudi shows Pakistan its place
In a major diplomatic snub to Pakistan, the titular ruler of Saudi Arabia, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, refused to meet with Pakistan Army Chief of Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa who was also accompanied by the head of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief General Faiz Hameed.
This is the first time a Pakistani army chief did not get an audience with the Saudi ruler, the reason being the outburst and threat given by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi.
The close bilateral ties between the two Islamic countries took a hit after Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi issued a warning to Saudi Arabia that it better call for a Foreign Minister-level meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Countries on Kashmir.
Qureshi is known to make off the cuff remarks and make outlandish statements. However, this time it seems he has gone too far. Speaking on the first anniversary of revocation of Article 370 by India, Qureshi showed his absolute contempt for Saudi Arabia for not backing Pakistan over the issue of ‘organising’ a meeting of the OIC Foreign Ministers (CFM) on Kashmir.
He further exacerbated the situation when he said, “Pakistan would be compelled to convene a meeting of Islamic countries that are ready to stand with it on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiri Muslims”.
“Today Pakistan is, who are always ready to sacrifice their lives for Mecca and Madina, need Saudi Arabia to play a leading role on the Kashmir issue. If they are not willing to play that role, then I will ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to go ahead with or without Saudi Arabia,” ANI had quoted him as saying.
However, Bajwa is considered as the last word when it comes to Pakistan’s national security and foreign affairs and he knows that the money sent by in remittance from this country is the lifeline for millions of Pakistanis.
The immediate response from Saudi came when it asked for the repayment of loan taken by Pakistan. To make the payment Pakistan took a loan of one billion dollars from China what many experts call the falling of Pakistan into China’s pitcher plant. The loan given by Saudi Arabia was part of a USD 6.2 billion package announced by Saudi in November 2018.
This will be an important trip for Gen Bajwa because the Saudis will never tolerate any country that will try to undermine its authority with regards to the OIC. The headquarters of the OIC is in Saudi Arabia which is also home to the two most important and holy mosques of Mecca and Medina.
If it was a cardinal sin to attack and threaten Saudi Arabia, the matter was further complicated when Qureshi also attacked the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for not supporting Pakistan on the issue of Kashmir.
Bajwa will have to do a fine balancing act when he would have met with senior Saudi officials because more than a quarter of remittance that Pakistan receives from its expatriates comes from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. From the UAE, Pakistan receives $4.6 billion in remittances.
As per protocol, it is the duty of Imran Khan to meet with the Saudis but in Pakistan, the fear was if Imran had gone and the crown prince had refused to meet with him, it would have caused more embarrassment.
It has been two years since Imran Khan became what many call the chosen one and the mess he leaves behind for his country seems to have no end. Pakistan has time and again failed to pursue its agenda on Kashmir and now it has gone on to jeopardise its relationship with its own brotherhood countries.
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