View Point: New Pak-Saudi terms of endearment

Two interesting visitors came calling this month from a brotherly Muslim country. First to arrive was the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal to lay down the groundwork for what is being touted as a “New Era of Strategic Partnership” between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. This week, Deputy Defence Minister Prince Suleman bin Sultan bin Abdul Aziz came for follow-up discussions. His first stop was a courtesy call on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who explained the new partnership saying “in view of current challenges, there is a need to further strengthen defence co-operation between the two countries …”

At his next stop, the GHQ, the Deputy Defence Minister, regardless of his official status, got a guard of honor welcome before meeting the CoAS and settling down for delegation-level talks with his hosts. Normal protocol, of course, had to be ignored considering the visitor came prepared to spend loads of money buying military equipment as well as training services. That though won’t be all. The kingdom is also said to want Pakistan’s help with internal security. Which is not something new. Pakistani troops have rendered such service in the past. The arrangement suits both sides. The Saudis can rely on a professional Muslim military for internal security instead of ‘Western infidels,’ (remember? al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden began his second jihadist career in his native Saudi Arabia by urging Muslims to fight those who support presence of Western military forces in Muslim countries) and Pakistan needs all the money it can get by selling military hardware and services.

Saudis are also offering co-operation in the civilian field to lend economic stability to this country. As a special favour, they recently granted amnesty to more than 80,000 illegal workers from Pakistan, agreeing also, during Foreign Minister’s visit, to hire more skilled and semi-skilled manpower (most valuable source of foreign exchange remittances), expand trade, and enhance investments in the energy sector. This new strategic partnership, based on either side selling its strength to the other to buy stability – the Saudis internal security and Pakistan money, jobs and investments it badly needs to revive its battered economy-looks great as long as it does not require suppression of another people’s democratic aspirations.

But there could be a catch or two. Pakistan’s help is sought not only because it has a strong professional army but also because it is an outsider. That outsider’s role should be as important from our perspective as it is from the other side. It must not require repeating a major mistake of the past of getting involved in Middle East’s power politics on behalf of one or the other player.

The Zia government welcomed setting up of seminaries bankrolled by the Kingdom and other Gulf monarchies to counter Iran’s growing influence. Some of these seminaries soon became breeding grounds of sectarian terrorists, who have been wreaking havoc with innocent lives and spreading intolerance and social hostilities. We are still paying the price, in the form of relentless sectarian terrorism, of being willing participants in a policy that aimed to curtail post-Revolution Iran’s regional ambitions by sharpening sectarian divisions.

The exploitation of sectarian sentiments to divide and conquer has not stopped. It is a weapon of choice in the Syrian civil war. The Gulf states have been backing radical Sunni Islamists, including such groups as al Nusra Front – banned by the US for its links with al Qaeda – with arms, training, and of course money – for the ouster of the Assad government, a close ally of Iran. The real fight is against Iran rather than the Syrian regime. And anyone coming in the way, even a best friend like the US, faces the kingdom’s anger.

Notably, the US and its European allies gave up plans to intervene in Syria upon realising that radical Islamists were increasingly dominating moderate groups fighting the regime. That did not sit well with Saudi sensitivities. In an uncharacteristic public show of annoyance over the issue last October, Riyadh resigned from a non-permanent member seat on the Security Council within 24 hours of winning it after hard campaigning.

Things being what they are, Pakistan has to be extra careful this time. Self-interest must take precedence every step along the way forward. It is heartening to note that since the start of the Syrian civil war, Pakistan has adopted a policy of strict neutrality. And a foremost issue of our concern is elimination of sectarian terrorism emanating from mostly foreign financed madrassahs. It is good to note that while addressing a joint news conference with the visiting Saudi Foreign Minister, our Prime Minister’s Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said that both sides had discussed defusing sectarianism in Muslim countries. Which can be taken to mean that the issue was discussed specifically as it relates to the problem in Pakistan, and that necessary remedial action is to follow from the other side.

The other subject on which the two countries do not see eye to eye, of course, is Iran. Riyadh may have its reasons to worry about Iran, but that country is our next door neighbour; we have no issues of conflict with it. In fact, we have a lot to gain from closer economic co-operation with Tehran. The “New Era of Strategic Partnership” is to begin at a time Iran’s new moderate President Hassan Rouhani is mending fences with the West and his emissary has also been touring Arab capitals to improve regional relations. Pakistan should use this changing environment to try and bring about reconciliation between its best friend and the neighbour to its west.

saida_fazal@yahoo.com