TRADITIONAL ALLIES, PAKISTAN & SAUDI ARABIA HAVE PUT THEMSELVES IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION. THE KASHMIR ISSUE & THE OIC SEEMS TO HAVE CAUSED THE FALLOUT. HERE'S HOW.
Recent news reports suggest that relations between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA henceforth) may have soured. Before analysis the present scenario, lets take a look at the past.
THE PAST
The highs of the past era have been such that many experts have dubbed Pakistan as KSA's most close muslim ally. And rightly so as well. Their relationship has been characterised by close cultural, religious, diplomatic & military cooperation.
KSA has openly backed Pakistan in the past. Be it for the Kashmir conflict with India, nuclear testing in the Chagai hills, 1971 war for Bangladesh & support for the Taliban (in close collaboration with the United Arab Emirates). Pakistan too has supported the Saudis in the middle east despite sharing boundary with Iran.
To be honest, KSA has been a big brother when it comes to economic cooperation. It has bailed out Pakistan several times by sanctioning loans & grants to the tune of billions of dollars. In 2018, KSA agreed to build an oil refinery in Gwadar. It has already poured USD 20 billion in Pakistan since 2000 in infrastructure alone. KSA is also PAk's major trading partner.
Defense co-operation is also good. Pakistan has sent thousands of soldiers in the past to protect religious sites during crisis in the middle east. I strongly believe Pak's nuclear ambitions were funded partly by the Saudis. Weapons have also been bought & sold to each other quite consistently. Joint military exercises are a regular phenomenon as well.
THE PRESENT
The current diplomatic spat is mainly due to the Kashmir conflict & the OIC.
Simply put, the Kashmir conflict is a decades old border issue between Pakistan & India with China having tangible involvement in the northern sector. The map below should suffice.
The OIC is a multilateral body spearheaded by the Saudis. Its members are nations having Islam as a major religion (57 members in total). The organisation claims to safeguard Islamic interests around the globe.
Now at present, Pakistan alleges that Saudi Arabia led OIC has not supported it strongly enough regarding the Kashmir issue. This has prompted a stern backlash through ending a loan and associated oil supply.
THE FUTURE
It seems unlikely that Pakistan will ditch an important ally specially in such tumultuous times. The dependence on KSA for financial assistance and cheaper petroleum will deter Pakistan from worsening the situation.
However according to me its plausible that the recent closeness with its all weather ally China may have emboldened Pakistan to make such a statement.
The fact that KSA demanded immediate repayment of a loan worth a billion dollars signifies that it has not taken such steps lightly & its ready to act tough against ANY nation which might harm its interests.
Credit must be given to New Delhi for influencing Islamic heavyweights like KSA, UAE, Oman, Indonesia & the Central Asian states to support India in OIC last year.
THATS ALL LADS & LADIES.
ADIOS!
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