Pakistan & Saudi Arabia- Natural Allies | PKKH.tv
PKKH Exclusive: Sh Fahad
It is very strange that some conspiracy theorists are trying to further gap the relations between Saudia Arabia and Pakistan. In the ongoing WOT and changing scenarios in Middle East. Saudia as a Natural alliance needs Pakistan and its support more then ever and in the same time, some figures, be it from Pakistan or some other countries are defaming Saudi regime and trying to further gap the relations between the two countries.
In this write up I just collected some plain facts, about historical and perhaps one of the most trusted and strongest relationships between two countries.
It is also imperative to understand and know that, Saudia is now becoming a key ally in defence and strategic scenarios of Pakistan. Since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have maintained close religious, cultural, economic & strategic ties. The relationship between the two countries is extremely close. Pakistan has maintained the closest bilateral ties as a non Arab Muslim country with Saudi Arabia. Defense cooperation between the two countries is very unique too.
Economic Ties:
Saudi Arabia is a major source of petroleum products for Pakistan. In past, Pakistan has been receiving oil on long term credit and special rates from Saudi Arabia. During the 1998 sanctions on Pakistan from USA & Europe in wake of nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia provided Free Oil Facility to Pakistan to cope with the sanctions. Saudi Arabia provided 50,000 barrels per day of free oil to Pakistan for more than 7 years. Their support during the critical time had helped reduce the hardship of people of Pakistan under sanctions.
Saudi Arabia was the major contributor of economic aid since 1969 to Pakistan. In 2003, Following King Abdullah visit to Pakistan (who was Crown Prince at that time), $2 billion dollar Saudi loans where turned into grants. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in industrial, banking, agricultural & power sector in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan trade in 2011 surged to $4.76 billion dollars. Pakistan has been lobbying for GCC free trade agreement and Saudi Arabia favors Pakistan for GCC-FTA giving Pakistan huge leverage with tax/custom waivers on import/export from GCC countries. A major decision is yet to be made in March 2013 when GCC leaders meet on this subject.
Pakistan has provided major role in development of Kingdom. Pakistan has contributed in science & technology, agriculture, infrastructure and other fields in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia houses one of the largest Pakistani expatriate populations which exceeds more than 1.5 million.
Defense Ties:
The defense ties between two the countries are rather close and Pakistan provides support, arms & extensive training to Saudi defense forces. Saudi Naval forces & Special Forces are sent to Pakistan every year on joint exercises with the Pakistan Army. The level of support between the two countries can be understood by several past hostile events that occurred in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Army was there to support them in their tough times.
In 1969, Pakistan air force pilots flew Saudi fighter planes to ward of invasion from south Yemeni separatist group. The Yemeni separatists were crushed by the Pakistani forces. Between the 70s and 80s around 15000 Pakistani forces were stationed in Saudi Arabia to protect the borders and train the Saudi forces. In 2009, Yemeni rebels attacked Saudi forces and tried to enter southern provinces of Saudi Arabia. Pakistani forces were once again backing up the Saudi Army and Yemeni rebels were forced to retreat after suffering heavy causalities.
During the 1979 siege of Masjid ul Haraam at Makkah Al Mukarramah, Pakistani SSG commandos were called to clear the rogue group that had laid siege at the Haram. The rogue group was successfully neutralized and the siege ended. In 2011, Pakistan Army supported Saudi Arabia stance on Bahrain and sent around 1000 retired army men to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain against saboteurs. Also in 2011, two Pakistan army divisions were on standby incase of unrest in eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
In 1980s Saudi Arabia and Pakistan jointly supported the Afghan Mujahideen who were fighting against foreign invaders (the Soviets). Both of the countries were deeply involved and as a result the Mujahideen succeeded in forcing the Soviets to retreat. 10 years of war in Afghanistan weakened the Soviets economically and as a result the Soviet Union (USSR) disintegrated and several central Asian countries emerged as independent states across the continent. Majority of the freed states were Muslim states. It was one of the biggest achievements of joint Saudi-Pak defense cooperation and the world saw a major Super Power collapse as an outcome of this joint effort.
The cooperation between the Pak-Saudi forces can be understood in the words of the former Saudi Intel Chief, Prince Turki Al Faisal:
Its probably one of the closest relationships in the world between any two countries.
Pakistans Nuclear Program
Saudi Arabia played a key role in supporting Pakistan to become a nuclear power. There is speculation in the media and among think tanks in the West that Pakistans nuclear program was funded by Saudi Arabia in early 1970s. Such claims cannot be independently verified by Pak/Saudi officials but they also never denied such claims officially. Saudi Arabia was a major supporter of Pakistan to perform the 1998 nuclear tests in response to Indias nuclear tests. Saudi Arabia promised Pakistan with free oil up to 50,000 barrels per day in the face of tough sanctions by the West that were put in place at the behest of Israel. This brotherly support of Saudi Arabia helped Pakistan make a quick decision to conduct the nuclear tests on a timely basis. After Pakistans successful nuclear tests, the late Defense Minister Prince Sultan visited Pakistans Kahota Research Labratories (KRL). He was the only foreign leader to have visited a sensitive installation such as the KRL. Even the former Prime Minister, late Benazir Bhutto was denied entry to the facility.
Diplomatic ties
Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan during wars with India. Saudi Arabia to this day supports Pakistans stance on Kashmir. Pakistan on the other hand, supported causes which fell in favor of Saudi Arabia in UN like situation in Bahrain, Yemen, Libya etc. After Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in the mid 1990s Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE where the only countries to recognize the Taliban government. This depicts that Pakistan and Saudi foreign policies support each other and areas of mutual interest.
The National Masjid of Pakistan was built by Saudi Arabia and named after the late King Faisal. Shah Faisal Masjid is the main icon of Islamabad. Even one of the main industrial city of Pakistan was renamed from Lyallpur to Faisalabad and one of the busiest main roads in Karachi was also named Shahra-e-Faisal. The brotherly relationship between the two countries is unbreakable. Both these countries are based on Islamic ideology and share mutual interests and objectives not only on regional level but also on the international stage where both the countries denounce all the atrocities against Muslims and Islam and support the causes of freedom of Muslims.
After citing these facts, which were probably just a reminder on my behalf, one could easily see, why some people are trying to break this relationship. I am still surprised that some self proclaimed policy makers are trying to cash distorted history about Fall of Caliphate and further fooling youth and people of Pakistan. I will discuss this Fall of Caliphate scenario in my some other write up, but for now, just a message to all our well-wishers that if they dont know about the P of Policy, they should not call themselves one.
Source:
Free oil: Nuclear deal: Pakistan gets free crude oil from Saudi Arabia
Trade: Saudi team arrives for trade talks | DAWN.COM
Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority: Saudi-Pakistan trade surged to SR 18 bn in 2011
Source
PKKH Exclusive: Sh Fahad
It is very strange that some conspiracy theorists are trying to further gap the relations between Saudia Arabia and Pakistan. In the ongoing WOT and changing scenarios in Middle East. Saudia as a Natural alliance needs Pakistan and its support more then ever and in the same time, some figures, be it from Pakistan or some other countries are defaming Saudi regime and trying to further gap the relations between the two countries.
In this write up I just collected some plain facts, about historical and perhaps one of the most trusted and strongest relationships between two countries.
It is also imperative to understand and know that, Saudia is now becoming a key ally in defence and strategic scenarios of Pakistan. Since the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have maintained close religious, cultural, economic & strategic ties. The relationship between the two countries is extremely close. Pakistan has maintained the closest bilateral ties as a non Arab Muslim country with Saudi Arabia. Defense cooperation between the two countries is very unique too.
Economic Ties:
Saudi Arabia is a major source of petroleum products for Pakistan. In past, Pakistan has been receiving oil on long term credit and special rates from Saudi Arabia. During the 1998 sanctions on Pakistan from USA & Europe in wake of nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia provided Free Oil Facility to Pakistan to cope with the sanctions. Saudi Arabia provided 50,000 barrels per day of free oil to Pakistan for more than 7 years. Their support during the critical time had helped reduce the hardship of people of Pakistan under sanctions.
Saudi Arabia was the major contributor of economic aid since 1969 to Pakistan. In 2003, Following King Abdullah visit to Pakistan (who was Crown Prince at that time), $2 billion dollar Saudi loans where turned into grants. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in industrial, banking, agricultural & power sector in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan trade in 2011 surged to $4.76 billion dollars. Pakistan has been lobbying for GCC free trade agreement and Saudi Arabia favors Pakistan for GCC-FTA giving Pakistan huge leverage with tax/custom waivers on import/export from GCC countries. A major decision is yet to be made in March 2013 when GCC leaders meet on this subject.
Pakistan has provided major role in development of Kingdom. Pakistan has contributed in science & technology, agriculture, infrastructure and other fields in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia houses one of the largest Pakistani expatriate populations which exceeds more than 1.5 million.
Defense Ties:
The defense ties between two the countries are rather close and Pakistan provides support, arms & extensive training to Saudi defense forces. Saudi Naval forces & Special Forces are sent to Pakistan every year on joint exercises with the Pakistan Army. The level of support between the two countries can be understood by several past hostile events that occurred in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Army was there to support them in their tough times.
In 1969, Pakistan air force pilots flew Saudi fighter planes to ward of invasion from south Yemeni separatist group. The Yemeni separatists were crushed by the Pakistani forces. Between the 70s and 80s around 15000 Pakistani forces were stationed in Saudi Arabia to protect the borders and train the Saudi forces. In 2009, Yemeni rebels attacked Saudi forces and tried to enter southern provinces of Saudi Arabia. Pakistani forces were once again backing up the Saudi Army and Yemeni rebels were forced to retreat after suffering heavy causalities.
During the 1979 siege of Masjid ul Haraam at Makkah Al Mukarramah, Pakistani SSG commandos were called to clear the rogue group that had laid siege at the Haram. The rogue group was successfully neutralized and the siege ended. In 2011, Pakistan Army supported Saudi Arabia stance on Bahrain and sent around 1000 retired army men to protect the Kingdom of Bahrain against saboteurs. Also in 2011, two Pakistan army divisions were on standby incase of unrest in eastern province of Saudi Arabia.
In 1980s Saudi Arabia and Pakistan jointly supported the Afghan Mujahideen who were fighting against foreign invaders (the Soviets). Both of the countries were deeply involved and as a result the Mujahideen succeeded in forcing the Soviets to retreat. 10 years of war in Afghanistan weakened the Soviets economically and as a result the Soviet Union (USSR) disintegrated and several central Asian countries emerged as independent states across the continent. Majority of the freed states were Muslim states. It was one of the biggest achievements of joint Saudi-Pak defense cooperation and the world saw a major Super Power collapse as an outcome of this joint effort.
The cooperation between the Pak-Saudi forces can be understood in the words of the former Saudi Intel Chief, Prince Turki Al Faisal:
Its probably one of the closest relationships in the world between any two countries.
Pakistans Nuclear Program
Saudi Arabia played a key role in supporting Pakistan to become a nuclear power. There is speculation in the media and among think tanks in the West that Pakistans nuclear program was funded by Saudi Arabia in early 1970s. Such claims cannot be independently verified by Pak/Saudi officials but they also never denied such claims officially. Saudi Arabia was a major supporter of Pakistan to perform the 1998 nuclear tests in response to Indias nuclear tests. Saudi Arabia promised Pakistan with free oil up to 50,000 barrels per day in the face of tough sanctions by the West that were put in place at the behest of Israel. This brotherly support of Saudi Arabia helped Pakistan make a quick decision to conduct the nuclear tests on a timely basis. After Pakistans successful nuclear tests, the late Defense Minister Prince Sultan visited Pakistans Kahota Research Labratories (KRL). He was the only foreign leader to have visited a sensitive installation such as the KRL. Even the former Prime Minister, late Benazir Bhutto was denied entry to the facility.
Diplomatic ties
Saudi Arabia supported Pakistan during wars with India. Saudi Arabia to this day supports Pakistans stance on Kashmir. Pakistan on the other hand, supported causes which fell in favor of Saudi Arabia in UN like situation in Bahrain, Yemen, Libya etc. After Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in the mid 1990s Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and UAE where the only countries to recognize the Taliban government. This depicts that Pakistan and Saudi foreign policies support each other and areas of mutual interest.
The National Masjid of Pakistan was built by Saudi Arabia and named after the late King Faisal. Shah Faisal Masjid is the main icon of Islamabad. Even one of the main industrial city of Pakistan was renamed from Lyallpur to Faisalabad and one of the busiest main roads in Karachi was also named Shahra-e-Faisal. The brotherly relationship between the two countries is unbreakable. Both these countries are based on Islamic ideology and share mutual interests and objectives not only on regional level but also on the international stage where both the countries denounce all the atrocities against Muslims and Islam and support the causes of freedom of Muslims.
After citing these facts, which were probably just a reminder on my behalf, one could easily see, why some people are trying to break this relationship. I am still surprised that some self proclaimed policy makers are trying to cash distorted history about Fall of Caliphate and further fooling youth and people of Pakistan. I will discuss this Fall of Caliphate scenario in my some other write up, but for now, just a message to all our well-wishers that if they dont know about the P of Policy, they should not call themselves one.
Source:
Free oil: Nuclear deal: Pakistan gets free crude oil from Saudi Arabia
Trade: Saudi team arrives for trade talks | DAWN.COM
Saudi Arabian General Investment Authority: Saudi-Pakistan trade surged to SR 18 bn in 2011
Source
