China, Saudi, Turkish presence makes a difference

Pakistan Day Parade

ISLAMABAD: The participation of troops of three time-tested friends of Pakistan – Saudi Arabia, Turkey and China – in the grand military parade on the 77th Pakistan Day to share the moments of joy with Pakistanis was a slap on the face of those maliciously vowing, dreaming and struggling to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and People’s Republic of China especially sent troops to take part in the spectacular parade where Pakistan showcased its modern weaponry. Turkey dispatched a band to perform at the splendid event.

The arrangements were immaculate and everything went as scheduled. The mere fact that the show was held in absolute peaceful environment sent a telling message to terrorists and those casting an evil eye on Pakistan. These elements were obviously disheartened and dejected.

The parade was exhilarating for all Pakistanis and a spectacle worth watching. It happened only during a democratic government that the annual exhibition was revived. In the dictatorial rule, it had been abandoned for many years, citing the grim security scenario. Although terrorist threats did loom large, the security wherewithal made it happen for the past few years. The passage of the resolution on March 23, 1940 that became the basis of creation of a separate homeland for Muslims of subcontinent annually deserves befitting celebration and remembrance. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) also joined the festivity by lighting up Dubai’s tallest building, Burj Al-Khalifa, with the green and white colours of Pakistan’s flag. The move underlined the solidarity and brotherly relations of the UAE and its people with Pakistan.

Pakistan and the UAE share strong and cultural ties, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor aptly commented in his Twitter message, thanking this government.

Indeed, the presence of the Chinese and Saudi troops and the Turkish band in the parade signaled their deepening ties with Pakistan and how passionate they are for this country.

Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia have unprecedentedly improved during the tenure of the Nawaz Sharif government. Shortly after this administration assumed office in 2013, the kingdom had given a cash gift of one billion dollar, unheard of in Pakistan’s history, to it to provide props and succor to its extremely bad economic conditions. Back in 1998, when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had exploded nuclear devices, making Pakistan the first nuclear country of the Muslim world, the then Saudi crown prince Abdullah, who was a great friend of Pakistan, had sanctioned concessional oil facility for Pakistan to steer it out of the dire straits in which the world sanctions had pushed it because of its detonations.

When Pakistan was being treated as a pariah in the realm of investment by powerful foreign countries that control the world, citing law and order problem, China took the plunge by concluding the $51 billion game-changer China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) that is fast changing the fate and destiny of Pakistan. The CPEC is part of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative in which trillions of dollars would be invested by China.

Besides, Pak-China defence ties have also been expanding to the great disappointment of Islamabad’s perennial foe, New Delhi. It is unprecedented in the history of Chinese military to join such parade in a foreign country, President Mamnoon Hussain fittingly noted while speaking on the occasion.

Never before have so many Pakistani top civilian and defence leaders paid frequent visits to China that they have undertaken over the past four years. This reflects the intensifying relations between the two neighbours in every sphere.

While tensions always prevail on Pakistan’s eastern border due to India’s relentless bullying; hardly any good news emanates from its western border with Afghanistan because the Kabul regime dances to the tunes set by India and the United States; and relations with Iran are also not normal, Islamabad has a remarkable peace on its border with China, the only country neighbouring Pakistan that has best of ties with it.

During the tenure of the current regime, Pakistan’s relations with Turkey have also touched new heights. Particularly, the Sharif brothers have special bonds and understanding with President Tayyip Erodgan. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was the first world leader, who had expressed camaraderie with the Turkish president after the putschists licked the dust following their overpowering by the people’s might. That was an extremely difficult time for Erodgan, who then needed diplomatic support from foreign countries.

Turkey’s ties with Pakistan have always been better but these excelled over the past four years.

Turkish companies have done a massive investment in several projects in Pakistan and have not been scared to do business here on the pretext of security situation.

Not only the Pakistan government but people at large are greatly grateful to Saudi Arabia, China and Turkey for making their presence in the military parade.