By: Asem Mustafa
Prime Minister Imran Khan is in Saudi Arabia and the visit is viewed as of great strategic importance. A joint strategy is planned for the future and both the countries are rebuilding their trust to higher elevations.
It is worth mentioning here that Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa reached Saudi Arabia a day earlier and held talks with Saudi officials on defense and security related matters.
It is believed that Pakistan and India relations, Saudi and Iran peace talks and the Yemen issue is also on the agenda.
The two dignitaries Prime Minister Imran Khan and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman met in private after a formal reception at the royal palace.
The Pakistani delegation with officials representing different ministries and departments are likely to hold discussions with the Saudi officials focusing on economy, trade, investment, energy and the creation of new employment opportunities for Pakistanis.
It may be noted that Prime Minister has requested some additional measures for the Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia and has been given assurance by the Saudi officials that they will deal with it at the earliest.
The major step during the meeting is formation of Supreme Coordination Council which will work to keep the relations between the two states active. The council will have the Saudi Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Pakistan heading it jointly.
Peace in war ravaged Afghanistan is only possible when the three countries namely Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates joined hands and helped in rebuilding Afghanistan after the collapse of Soviet Union.
After the Soviet collapse, the United States left Afghanistan as its ally, it was Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates that brought peace in devastated Afghanistan.
It is on record that Imran Khan after getting elected as Prime Minister first visited Saudi Arabia and extended invitation to Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman who later visited Pakistan. Prime Minister Imran Khan himself drove his car from the airport.
Saudi Arabia has pledged to lend Pakistan three billion dollars a year in the form of oil for three years, which helped significantly in reducing the import bill besides saving the foreign exchange reserves.
This generous gesture from Saudi Arabia, also led to some misunderstandings which can be attributed to external pressure from US administration headed by then President Donald Trump.
It is believed the two countries cementing the brotherhood ties irked western bloc which wanted to isolate Pakistan and have Indian influence in the region.
This resulted in misunderstandings but with new United States President Joe Biden at the helm of affairs Pakistan importance especially after the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan has raised manifolds.
Maintaining the security and balance of power in the region, Pakistan is once again sought to play a role in the region. The presence of Army Chief and Prime Minister in Saudi Arabia at the same time is also viewed as very important as Pakistan playing a key role in the region.