Pak-Saudi Relations: Dimensions and Dynamics.

Byline: Muhammad Asif Noor

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud is in Islamabad for his maiden visit to Pakistan after assuming office in October. High level visits of such kind are a regular practice between both countries. Such engagement has improved especially after the visit of the Saudi Crown Prince's last visit this year where not only agreement of cooperation were signed but also joint council was established to oversee the entire progress on commitments in various sectors.

The visit of the Saudi Foreign minister has also come at a time when Prime Minister Imran Khan made a quick visit to the Kingdom to meet the Saudi leadership including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for the consultation on bilateral matters and developments in the regional context especially in the backdrop of Summit of Muslim leaders in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur Summit was hosted by Prime Minister Dr. Mahatir Mohamad, wherein the Turkish President Erdogan, Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-thani and Iranian President Hasan Rouhani were present to witness the dialogue on the role of development and how to improve and achieve the national sovereignties with increasing global challenges. The summit was meant to provide solutions Pak-Saudi Relations: Dimensions and Dynamics Muhammad Asif Noor the problems afflicting the global Muslim communities especially marred with conflicts and backwardness where the summit provided some practical steps towards these problems.

Pakistan however skipped this Summit and Prime Minister Imran Khan after Saudi Arabia went to later went to Kingdom of Bahrain for another fruitful consultation over the building of relations between the states. In Bahrain Prime Minister Imran Khan was conferred with the Highest Civil Award by King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa and both states signed multiple MoUs in the fields of higher education, scientific research, sports and medical sciences.

One of the key foreign policy challenges for Pakistan has remained how to balance and navigate its policy in the volatile Middle East and Gulf region. Through diplomatic adroitness and pragmatism of the leadership in Islamabad, Pakistan will be able to deal with all the challenges especially in finding the balance in its relations with the Muslim world. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman earlier this year was in Islamabad for a historic and momentous visit to Islamabad with his high powered entourage of Ministers and signed eight major agreements of cooperation worth billions of dollars bailing out Pakistan from its economic vows.

The associates include ministers, advisers and CEOs of the large Saudi Companies are investing in Pakistan. These agreements are in the areas of investment, finance, power, internal...