Pak-Saudi ties: indispensability, interdependence and pragmatism
Saudi Arabia is pivotal to Pakistan in a world where Pakistan badly needs more friends
The writer is a retired major general and has an interest in International Relations and Political Sociology. He can be reached at [email protected] and tweets @20 Inam
When my Op-Ed, “The Imperatives of Pakistan-Saudi Relations”, was published in this space on August 26, 2020, the historic bilateral relations were undergoing some transformation, adjusting to a changed geo-strategic environment.
The perceived “chasm” was providing a lot of ammunition to the detractors. And the conspiracy theorists were in overdrive to forecast a permanent split in bilateral ties due to: a) Saudi retrieval of loans and oil supply on deferred payment to Pakistan; b) Saudi inability to rope in Pakistan firmly and effectively into its anti-Iran alliance; c) the difference of opinion over interlocution on Kashmir from the Organization of Isl
PM Imran Khan stands with the working class, not elite: Fawad Chaudhry
Pakistan
Fri, May 07, 2021
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry speaks during a press conference. Photo: Geo News screengrab
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Friday defended the prime minister s recent criticism of Pakistani ambassadors. If we can t raise our voices for overseas Pakistanis, we don t have the right to sit in government, said Chaudhry, sitting beside Advisor to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood.
The information minister said he was surprised at the PML-N s criticism of the premier s recent speech, adding that a government does not have the right to hold power if it can t raise the voice for overseas Pakistanis.
Fawad Chaudhry defends PM Imran Khan s criticism of ambassadors
By
Friday May 07, 2021
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry speaks during a press conference. Photo: Geo News screengrab
Some embassies had closed their doors on overseas Pakistani labourers, says Fawad Chaudhry.
Action should be taken against such people, he says.
If we can t raise our voices for overseas Pakistanis, we don t have the right to sit in government, says Chaudhry.
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Friday defended the prime minister s public criticism of Pakistan s ambassadors, saying he stood with the working class and not the elite.
Indifferent attitude towards expats unforgivable , PM tells ambassadors
By
Wednesday May 05, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan addressing addressed Pakistani ambassadors stationed across the globe on May 5, 2021. YouTube
PM Imran Khan says overseas Pakistanis precious assets of the country.
Referencing the mistreatment of the Pakistani expat community in Saudi Arabia, PM says the complaints were shocking.
An indifferent attitude towards the expat community is unforgivable, says PM.
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday addressed Pakistani ambassadors stationed across the globe, days after he had called back Pakistan s envoy to Saudi Arabia over the mistreatment of the Pakistani expat community by the latter s staff.