By Chathushka Perera
Islamabad, Pakistan (CWBN)_ Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been deteriorating for several years, particularly since Pakistan’s refusal to assist in the war in Yemen, shattering hopes for an “Islamic NATO” in 2015.
Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, Pakistan repaid USD 1 billion as a second instalment of a USD 3 billion loan granted by Saudi in 2018 as a financial lifeline. It is expected that the remaining USD 1 billion will be repaid by January next year. Pakistani news agency “Dawn” claimed that Saudi had insisted on the repayment of the loan.
In August this year, following India’s decision to revoke the special status of the Kashmir region, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi threatened to align Pakistan with China and its allies, Russia, and Iran, should Saudi authorities fail to raise the issue over Kashmir at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Qureshi added, “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.”
In response to the threat, Saudi demanded the repayment of the loan USD 3 billion loan, which was a provided alongside a USD 3.2 billion deference to oil and gas payments.
The repayment of the Saudi grant was carried out by obtaining loans from China.
Meanwhile, it has also been reported that Pakistan has been aligning itself with the bloc consisting of Turkey, Malaysia and Iran, amongst the Muslim world, which has been viewed as a challenge to Saudi’s authorities over the community.
The developments reflect a near disturbing shift in global strategic interests with Pakistan standing up against the US over sanctions implemented against Turkey for its purchase of a S-400 air defence system from Russia.
Pakistan’s ties to Iran have also been deepening over the last couple of years, particularly with latter’s commitments to China’s Belt and Road Initiative.
