Sovereign nation

The UAE minister’s statement seems to be characteristic of the thinking prevalent in Saudi Arabia and its gulf allies. The statement of the Saudi religious affairs minister and his adviser during their recent visit to Pakistan were essentially conveying the same message – albeit in a more civilised manner.
There could possibly be two reasons for this rather (over) reaction: being a recipient of generous economic aid from these countries they never expected Pakistan to do anything else but comply with their request, and second, our PM during his visit to Saudi Arabia perhaps promised to deliver what the Saudis wanted without fully realising its implications. Our Arab brothers should realise that in spite of all the financial aid that they have extended to Pakistan we are still a sovereign state with our own compulsions. The lesson for us is that donors seldom show a nation living on their handouts much respect.
Akbar Jan Marwat
Islamabad