Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are in the midst of reset relations

Shamim Mehmood

Islamabad: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been strong allies for decades and the two have close ties in different areas including defense. But the relationship between two countries seems in trouble for the last few years. Both countries appear to be in the midst of reset relations. 

The Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud has promised nothing though the Prime Minister Imran Khan and hid counterpart Mr. Qureshi flagged the issue in separate meeting with the visiting Minister on July 27. Apart from other issues, the high-ups requested Saudi Arabia to facilitate and take steps for an early return of Pakistani workers to KSA. Saudi Arabia is home to almost 2 million Pakistanis working in different fields.

In addition, Saudi Arabia did not allow Pakistani to perform Umrah after resumption of Umrah services for pilgrims worldwide starting from August 10 (1st Muharam). The pilgrims from nine countries including India and Pakistan will require 14-days quarantine in a third country at their cost and many Pakistani say they cannot afford.

Subsequently, hundreds of workers in ‘‘Etimad Pakistan’’ have been facing threats of losing their due to Saudi restrictions for Pakistani citizens. Reportedly, dozens of them have been sent on without-pay leave.

FM Qureshi told in a joint press conference held in the foreign office, which around 4 hundred thousand of over two million Pakistani workers in Saudi Arabia had been stranded at home due to travel restrictions by the kingdom.

‘’They are facing challenges, you know the travel restrictions and you know the issues of vaccination,’’ replied Prince Faisal bin al Saud.

Saudi Arabia has bared direct travel from Pakistan, it has only approved the AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.    

Prince Faisal bin Farhan al Saud is the first high profile visit to Pakistan after cracks in historical relations between two friendly countries.

The tension rise when FM Qureshi threatening the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and the Saudis that Pakistan would go outside the OIC to convene a session on Kashmir. The Saudis didn’t take kindly to Pakistan’s hectoring and have cracked the whip. They forced Pakistan to return $1 billion. The two sides have locked in tough negotiations for repayment of the rest of the debt.

during the recent, the two foreign ministers have exchanged views on the entire gamut of bilateral relations and regional and international issues, said FO. And efforts are being made to stitch the differences and put the relationship back on track. However, frequent high-level visits can serve to further deepen and broaden the relationship in untold dimensions.