PTI sit-in disturbs Saudi dignitary’s visit to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: General Mohammed bin Saleh Al Qtaibi, commander of Royal Saudi Air Force, is among a number of foreign dignitaries who are scheduled to visit Pakistan early next month, but they are confused whether to proceed ahead with their original programme due to the PTI threat to ‘lock down’ the federal capital on November 2.

Highly-placed sources told The News on Friday General Qtaibi had been invited by his Pakistani counterpart Pakistan Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman. He had planned a four-day trip to Pakistan from November 6.

The Saudi Air Force is interested in undertaking joint exercises with Pakistan and intends to purchase defence equipment from Pakistan. It is likely that all subjects of mutual interest would come under discussion during the stay of the Saudi general in Pakistan. The Saudi air chief is also to visit Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad. The Saudi Air Force has been asking Pakistan about arrangements for the visit of its chief time and again, but no clear signal is being given by Islamabad to the Saudi dignitaries.

The PAF is attaching significance to the slated visit of the Saudis. The air chief of Pakistan visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of General Saleh Al-Qtaibi in April this year and was warmly received in the kingdom. A royal protocol was given to him. He discussed matters of professional and mutual interest there.

The air chief expressed satisfaction over the incessant mutual cooperation between the two air forces and offered all training facilities to the Royal Saudi Air Force. He also shared the PAF’s experience of fighting against extremists in the ongoing Operation Zarb-e-Azab.

The Saudis appreciated the high standards of professionalism set by the PAF and highlighted the need for learning from each other’s experience. The air chief also visited the King Faisal Air Academy and met the PAF instructors and ground crew of Mushshak aircraft, who are deputed to Saudi Arabia. The air chief lauded the PAF contingent for their valuable services and advised them to work as ambassadors of Pakistan in the brotherly country.

The sources said the Saudi air chief had planned to visit various airports and facilities in Islamabad, Risalpur, Peshawar and Karachi, but the government is reluctant to give an outright clearance for his visit due to an uncertain situation and it is expected that the situation would become clear next week and the final decision would be taken accordingly.