A timeless bond

The recent defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia has captured the world’s attention. International media reports highlight Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir’s recent visit to Riyadh as a new development in Middle Eastern geopolitics.

Historically, bilateral relations between Riyadh and Islamabad have gone beyond conventional diplomacy. Saudi Arabia always stood with Pakistan on every front. During the cold war, when the Middle Eastern states leaned towards the Soviet Union, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia aligned themselves firmly with the Western bloc.

However, the present agreement is deeply rooted in a visionary tradition articulated by Pakistan’s first elected prime minister, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, during the 1974 Islamic Summit in Lahore. Addressing Muslim leaders, Bhutto had urged that: “We must now translate our Islamic unity from the realm of emotion to the realm of action”.

On that significant occasion, the legendary Saudi King Shah Faisal reinforced this vision, declaring that “Our oil is not merely a commodity; it is a weapon for our survival and our independence”. I believe that such a powerful stance created the intellectual and strategic foundation of the Pakistan–Saudi relationship on a long-term basis.

It is an undeniable fact that whenever Pakistan was trapped in economic crises, Riyadh was the first to extend a helping hand. Conversely, whenever Saudi Arabia faced threats to its territorial security, Pakistan responded with full commitment. This spirit of reciprocity has been the essence of our bilateral ties.

A decade ago, when the Yemen issue emerged, Saudi Arabia once again looked towards Pakistan. I was among the few prominent parliamentarians who, on the floor of the National Assembly, strongly advocated for sending Pakistani troops to defend the sacred land of Saudi Arabia.

Recently, the UK, Australia, and Canada have recognised Palestine as an independent state. I see this development from another angle. Pakistan has always supported the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. Whatever developments unfold regarding Gaza or Palestine, Pakistan must support Saudi Arabia to take a unified decision in the best interest of the region.

Today, as new regional alliances are being formed, we must ask ourselves why, at the diplomatic level, we still lack a single reliable, trustworthy friend who can stand by us unconditionally. Since independence, the US has been our ‘natural ally’, but Washington repeatedly accuses us of playing a ‘double game’ in Afghanistan. Other regional countries also harbour grievances against us on one issue or another.

According to astrological forecasts, October will mark a new rise for the US President Donald Trump, with major decisions expected by the end of March next year that could reshape the Middle East. Astrologers further warn that Pakistan has to face several critical challenges during the middle of the October-to-March period. Meanwhile, new regional alliances will emerge in our neighborhood, and unconventional measures from the Western world are also predicted.

Although the pact with Saudi Arabia is indeed historic, I believe that it is also a test of Pakistan’s diplomatic maturity. History reminds us that whenever Pakistan has tried to secure the friendship of one nation, we have often alienated other countries – a cost the entire Pakistani nation has had to bear on long term basis. We must therefore exercise great caution when it comes to the Middle East.

The writer is a member of the National Assembly and patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Hindu   Council. He tweets/posts @RVankwani