Saudi Arabia agreed to give Pakistan $3
billion in foreign currency support for a year, and a further loan worth
up to $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports
ISLAMABAD: Islamabad’s ties with Middle Eastern states are “not at the
cost of our bilateral relationship with any other country,” including
the US, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesman told Arab News on Saturday.
“Pakistan is actively engaged with the US, and as a result Secretary of
State Mike Pompeo visited Islamabad and the US special envoy for
Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad has visited Pakistan three times,” said Dr.
Mohammad Faisal.
“The (Pakistani) government believes in productive and proactive
diplomacy, and this is what we’ve done in the last four months.”
During its first four months in office, the government of Pakistani
Prime Minister Imran Khan has focused on strengthening ties with Middle
Eastern countries, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Analysts say
this is due to tensions between Pakistan and the US over the war in
Afghanistan.
“Saudi Arabia and the UAE are time-tested and all-weather friends of
Pakistan, and it’s quite natural for Pakistan to warm up its
relationship with these countries at a time of ever-deteriorating
diplomatic relations with the US,” said Tahir Malik, international
affairs professor at NUML University in Islamabad.
It is imperative for Pakistan to forge close ties with Saudi Arabia and
the UAE “to stay relevant in the international community,” he added.
After being elected in August, Khan chose Saudi Arabia for his maiden
foreign trip in September, where he held meetings with King Salman and
Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. Khan traveled to the UAE soon after.
Both trips bore dividends. Saudi Arabia agreed to give Pakistan $3
billion in foreign currency support for a year, and a further loan worth
up to $3 billion in deferred payments for oil imports to help stave off
a current account crisis. The UAE offered $3 billion in aid.
“I don’t think this clear appreciation of our close historic
relationship with Saudi Arabia and the UAE was demonstrated by previous
Pakistani governments,” Rasul Bukhsh Rais, a professor of political
science, told Arab News.
Khan returned from those two countries with “incredible support at a
very difficult hour in Pakistan’s history,” marked by a new transition
to democracy, a deteriorating economy, a new party (Pakistan
Tehreek-e-Insaf) in power and a new prime minister, Rais said.
Pakistan needs to explore trade and investment opportunities in the
Middle East, lure investors by offering incentives, and explore
opportunities to increase agricultural exports, he added.
Former Pakistani diplomat Javed Hafeez said Khan’s government has boosted relations with Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Islamabad is committed to protecting Saudi sovereignty against any foreign aggression, Hafeez added.
According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource
Development, some 4 million Pakistanis live and work in the Middle East.
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