By Chathushka Perera
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CWBN)_ As tensions with India continue to climax, supported by China’s political, economic and military influences in the region, Pakistan’s relationship with Saudi Arabia took a dive off a cliff after Saudi authorities removed the Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan from the borders of Pakistan and India, depicting them as spate territories on a world map printed on the back its new SAR 20 banknotes.
The notes were issued in late-October to commemorate the G-20 summit due to be hosted by Saudi Arabia, starting tomorrow (21st Nov), however, according to recent reports, the banknotes have been withdrawn by the government after complaints were lodged by Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ausaf Sayeed.
The decision was taken by Saudi authorities subsequent to Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s threats to align his country’s interests with that of China and its allies, Russia and Saudi Arabia’s rival, Iran, should its longstanding ally fail to raise the issue of its border dispute in foreign ministers meeting in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), on the 5th of August.
Speaking to a local news channel, Qureshi said, “For one year we have been requesting the OIC to call a council of foreign ministers meeting on Palestine and Kashmir issues where Muslims are facing atrocities while India demolished the 300 year old Babri mosque and are building a Ram Temple but the OIC remains silent.”
Saudi Arabia reacted to the threat by demanding the immediate return of USD 1 billion of USD 3 billion loaned to Pakistan, under a three year USD 6.2 billion (which includes USD 3.2 billion in deferred oil and gas payments) financial life-line, granted to support its foreign reserves. The one year deference, included provisions for a rollover, while the cash package carried an interest rate of 3.2%.
The amount was repaid to Saudi Arabia using a loan obtained from China. The remaining payments are expected to be made in several tranches.
Although the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff, Qamar Javed Bajwa, and Director General of Inter-Services Intelligence, Faiz Hammed, attempted to smooth out the diplomatic rift left by Qureshi two weeks later, they were denied an audience with Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, the country’s defacto leader.
Rather were granted an audience with the prince’s younger brother, Deputy Defence Minister, Sheikh Khalid bin Salman, and Military Chief of Staff, Major General Yayyad al Ruwaili.
The incident was viewed as an insult by the nuclear armed power, particularly given that Pakistan’s military apparatus possesses determining influence over its government, adding to the fact that it is the only nuclear armed Muslim nation to date.
Moreover, Pakistan’s deepening relationship with China and its bloc, particularly with regard to the streamlined China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, may have serious implications for the Gulf’s interests, particularly with regard to oil and gas exports, in the long term.
Edited by Elishya Perera
