Pak, Saudi relations to achieve new heights: Analysts

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Defense and political experts Tuesday said defense cooperation between Pakistan and Kingdom Saudi Arabia (KSA) will touch new heights of friendship after the decision of Federal Government to send additional troops to the holy land for provision of training and advisory missions for the Saudi armed forces.

Former Secretary Law and Order Fata and renowned defense analyst, Brigadier (Retd) Mehmood Shah told media that Pakistan and KSA relations are deep-rooted, historic and time-tested spreading over 50 years and this decision was the part of the continuity of long defense cooperation between the two brotherly Islamic countries.

He said both the countries enjoy extremely cordial relations with strong religious, cultural and historic bonds and have commonalities of views on most of regional and international issues.

Pakistan had trained Saudi Armed forces personnel in various training and educational institutions of the country in the past, and that sending of additional troops would be purely for training and advisory missions purposes, he explained.

Brigadier Mehmood said Pakistani armed forces have vast experience in mountain warfare and counter terrorism operations and their outstanding role has been globally recognized, adding deployment of troops at KSA was under the bilateral protocol agreement of 1982.

Pakistan and KSA have complete harmony and view points on most of regional and international issues by holding regular consultative sessions and were keen to further augment regional cooperation in various fields of mutual interest besides furthering the cause of maintaining international peace, stability and economic prosperity.

Brigadier Mehmood Shah said Parliament was the best forum to deliberate on this important issue and a comprehensive strategy should be adopted by taking nation into confidence on such sensitive issues.

He said decision in haste was often counterproductive and we should take up all matters in the national interest.

Sardar Aurangzaib Nalota, PML-N Parliamentary leader in KP Assembly told APP that the Government has taken a bold and accurate decision for sending additional troops to KSA for training and consultative mission, which will further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

Saudi Arabia, he said, is a country of holy places and enhanced cooperation in defense between Islamabad and Riyadh would help prove positive for entire Muslim Ummah.

Nalota said there was no justification of making hue and cry of opposition following a comprehensive policys statement by the Defense Minister Khurram Dastagir in the Senate on this key issue.

The Defense Minister has clarified in clear terms that Pakistan troops would remain within geographical boundaries of the KSA and politicking on this sensitive issue should be avoided in the country’s larger interest, he maintained.

The PML-N leader strongly rejected the apprehension that Pakistani troops would interfere in Yemen conflict and termed all such speculations is totally incorrect and baseless.

He said the assistance being rendered to Saudi Arabia was a continuation of the ongoing support and within the parameters of the joint Parliamentary resolution of April 2015.

The PMLN leader said whether it was 2015 powerful earthquake or 2010 devastated floods or any other calamity and trouble situation, the people and government of KSA always helped Pakistan and Islamabad has also extended full support to Riyadh during Middle East crisis.