By: Hadia Mukhtar
As the emerging points of divergence between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia dictate the course of their bilateral ties, it is essential that both the countries should work overcome the gaps in the relationship.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia cordial relationship dates back to the 1960s as the former considers latter as a strategic partner as close military, economic, religious and ideological domains form the basis of their ties. However, with the emerging geo-political dynamics in Pakistan’s backyard and the growing great power rivalry in the broader international framework, the bilateral ties have faced numerous obstacles and irritants that water down the enthusiasm associated with joint collaboration under ideological apparatus. As the new regional arrangements at the backdrop of China Pakistan Economic Corridor calls for connectivity and economic prosperity that require countries to redefine and reform their existing partnerships and leverage the new ones, Pakistan does not want them to become permanent irritant in its relations with Saudi Arabia. It is because Saudi Arabia happens to be one of those countries that have considerable influence in Pakistan’s foreign policy discourses and internal policy making decisions.
Pakistan considers Saudi Arabia as a key strategic partner who has offered support to the former in 1965 and 1971 wars along with backing Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. However, in the context of changing regional scenario, Saudi Arabia’s support for Kashmir has faced a degree of obscurity with a cautioned plea for peace process between Pakistan and India. Furthermore, Saudi Arabia has provided Pakistan key financial assistance in the form of free oil in the midst of crippling sanctions the former has faced in response of its 1988 nuclear tests. With deferred oil facility, $1.4 billion assistance in 2014 to overcome the chronic circular debt and $3bn loan in 2018 to overcome Pakistan’s external debt crisis, Saudi Arabia happens to be one of the significant “friendly countries” in Pakistan’s checklist. Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia also enjoys considerable stakes in the bilateral ties. Muslims in Pakistan have a favorable view of Saudi Arabia in the context of being the birth place of Islam and the seat for Harmain Sharifain. Thus, the Soviet-Afghan war has provided Saudi Arabia to extend its political and religio-ideological clout in Pakistan by funding and supporting Sunni religious organizations and Madrasas. In doing so, Saudi Arabia strives to gather considerable political and military support from nuclear-armed Pakistan to counter Iranian influence and pursue a dominant position in the Muslim world.
However, the ideological and smooth trajectory of Pak-Saudi relationship in the previous years have faced some stumbling blocks that have paved way for irritating rhetoric from Pakistan’s foreign office leading to alleged narratives regrading Saudi Arabia’s receding support for Kashmir Issue. Therefore, it is necessary to explore the events that lead to irritants emerging in their bilateral relationship.
Pakistan’s unanimous decision in the joint parliamentarian session with respect to refusing to send its troops in the Yemen War in 2015 became one if the irritants in the bilateral ties. Pakistan’s decision of maintaining the policy of “neutrality” and non-interference in Middle Eastern Affairs stemmed from preserving its own security stakes because it cannot afford to annoy Iran with whom its shares its 780 km long border and pre-empt any sectarian backlash that might result from Yemeni conflict. Pakistan has learnt hard lessons from its involvement in War on Terror which marred its international credibility and dismantled the writ of the state due to mushrooming terrorism and extremism. By adhering firming to the narrative of balancing its ties with both Saudi Arabia and Iran might create impediments in its ties with Saudi-Arabia, yet it highlight prudence and pragmatic approach in its foreign policy.
Although Pakistani people and the leaders acknowledge the holiness of the land of Saudi Arabia, criticisms of Saudi government is growing in the recent years regarding the government’s alleged support to Sectarian groups and madrasas that fuel religious extremism and violence. This shows that even though the public upholds favourable view of Saudi-Arabia, the latter failed to gather military support in Yemen in the light of national consensus in Pakistan to remain neutral.
The paradigm shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy that for of diversifying the options and leveraging the emerging opportunities in region is reflected in its approach of becoming regionally diverse and China-oriented has created obstacles in its relationship with Saudi Arabia. With CPEC cementing Pakistan-China’s all weather relationship, Pakistan’s foreign policy is diverted towards establishing friendly ties with Afghanistan and Iran. As a result, not only can Pakistan secure maximum interests in the emerging geo-economics but also create safe and secure environment of the implementation of CPEC projects in the country. Pakistan’s strong economic position that can be synergized through the successful completion of CPEC can balance its relationship with Saudi Arabia that apparently lacks the transactional focus.
CPEC, a road that has many doors can provide Pakistan the emerging opportunity to revitalize its ties with Iran with whom it shares it western border. Even though the process started with the initiative of Iran Pakistan peace pipeline which was left unfinished from Pakistan’s side due to the alleged pressure by Saudi Arabia and the US, CPEC is the propensity to bridge the gap which could overcome the Pakistan’s internal security situation and pit lids on state-sponsored terrorism fostered through India. As India gets nullified from the Chabahar Port project with China securing trade and economic partnership with crisis-ridden Iran, chances are ripe for Pakistan to collaborate at the backdrop of emerging Pakistan-Iran-China nexus. Such developments do not go unnoticed in Saudi-Arabia and no prizes for guessing, become irritants in the bilateral ties.
Saudi Arabia’s deepening relationship with India under defence, economic and trade cooperation has created major obstacles in Pak-Saudi ties and hence, fomented the realist concept, “in international relations, there are no permanent friends or enemies, but only permanent interests”. At the backdrop of Balakot airstrikes at the start of 2019, the OIC’s invitation to Indian officials in the OIC conference was felt by Pakistan a betrayal to the Kashmir Cause. Furthermore, the commercial deals signed by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and UAE after the August 5th lock down followed by India’s revocation of Article 370 and 35A that preserved Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status created trust deficit between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
As the emerging geo-politics of the Middle East largely transform from the Saudi-Iran sectarian rift to the entry of Israel through the Abraham Accords, future challenges await for the Pak-Saudi Arabia bilateral ties. With the Arab world joining hands with Israel and Riyadh giving covert statements about the possibility of mending fences with Israel, voices are heard that pressure is exerted on Pakistan to follow suit. Pakistan, considers its decision to establish diplomatic ties with Israel as a betrayal to both Kashmir cause and Palestine Issue as it stands firmly on the fact that the right of self-determination and territorial integrity should stand uncompromised.
As the emerging points of divergence between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia dictate the course of their bilateral ties, it is essential that both the countries should work overcome the gaps in the relationship. On foreign policy front, prudence lies in the fact to maintain balanced relationship with Iran and Saudi Arabia and remain neutral in Middle Eastern affairs. Even in the context of recognizing Israel, back-channel diplomacy and establishing ties on a limited basis where Pakistan can secure its maximum interests, preserve Palestinian cause and ensure that its ties with Iran do not get adversely affected, is pragmatism.
Furthermore, Pakistan should remain committed to defence and military cooperation with Saudi Arabia and continue with ideological and diplomatic engagement with the latter. However, in the lieu of emerging dynamics and closeness of India towards Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies, Pakistan needs to achieve economic self-sufficiency by boosting its trade volume and reducing its dependence on financial assistance that cripple its sovereignty and bargaining power.
In addition, Pakistan needs to adhere to its narrative of promoting peace in the Middle East by working diplomatically to fill the rising differences between Iran and Saudi Arabia. With CPEC at the backdrop that pitches at economic prosperity and regional connectivity along with strengthening its ties with Turkey and collaborating with robust standing in regional organizations such as OIC and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Pakistan can diplomatically strive to make ends meet.
The writer is a geo-political and foreign policy analyst with a strong background in International Relations. She can be reached at [email protected]