Pakistan’s army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, intends to visit Saudi Arabia this weekend, officials reported.
This meeting comes in the quest to smooth diplomatic ties over Kashmir as financial support for Pakistan from Saudi could be compromised.
Pakistan and Saudi are traditionally close. In 2018, the kingdom of Saudi Arabia lent Pakistan a $3 billion loan and $3.2 billion oil credit facility to help Pakistan out of its balance of payments crisis.
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However, the recent comments from Pakistan about Saudi’s reaction over Kashmir’s territorial dispute being lukewarm has irritated Saudi, leading to Pakistan’s army chief, General Qamar going on a planned meeting to Saudi on Sunday, two senior military officials informed Reuters.
Although, the official line said by Major General Babar Iftikhar, Pakistan army spokesman, to Reuters was that the visit was pre-planned and “primarily military affairs oriented”.
Pakistan has long urged Islamic Countries part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), a Saudi-led Organization, to hold a high-level meeting to talk formally about the alleged Indian violations in the part of Kashmir India controls.
However, the OIC has only held low-level meetings so far, even after 5th August 2019 when India revoked the region’s special status.
“If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris,” Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, said to the local Pakistani media recently.
It is important to note that last year, Pakistan had decided to not attend a Muslim nation’s forum, involving Turkey, Malaysia, and Iran, at the last minute on Saudi Arabia’s insistence, who took it as a challenge to its leadership of the OIC and Muslim world.
It is also important to mention Turkey, Malaysia, and Iran’s constant support to Pakistan over the Kashmir dispute.
One of the Pakistani military officials and a government advisor stated that Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s recent remarks have reignited Saudi’s rage.
Pakistan was already made to pay back $1 billion two weeks ago by Saudia Arabia, which led Pakistan to borrow instead from its close ally China.
Moreover, Saudi is yet to answer back Pakistan’s request to extend the oil credit facility.
“The first year (of the oil credit facility) completed on 9th July 2020. Our request for an extension in the arrangement is under consideration with the Saudi side,” a Pakistani finance ministry official told Reuters.
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