After countless sacrifices, hardships and enormous struggle, Pakistan appeared on the map of the world on 14 August 1947. Almost after three years and half of its inception, Pakistan and Saudia Arabia decided to establish their relationship when a pact of camaraderie was ratified between these two Muslim countries in 1951, and in this way laid down the foundation of bilateral ties.
Shah Saud visited Pakistan in 1954, followed by Shah Faisal, Shah Khalid, Shah Fahad, Shah Abdullah and recently Muhammad Bin Salman gave its precious time and visit Pakistan. From this onwards, both the countries supported each other in their most difficult times and have shown to the world that their friendship is as rare and close as two almonds in the chaff. In 1979, Pakistan renamed the city of Faisalabad from Lyallpur in the prestige of Shah Faisal. During the wars of 1965 and 1971 that were fought between India and Pakistan, Israel supported India. Suadi Arabia remained never behind and supported Pakistan by providing financial and material assistance. On different occasions, India also tried to take advantage of Pak-Saudi misunderstandings and attempted to sequester them but all its wicked efforts went futile.
In 1967, a Defense cooperation concord was signed between the two countries to impart training to Saudi-military forces. In 1969, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also laid down the foundation of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), now the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Rabat and Morocco. In the 1970s and 1980s, Pakistan had close military ties with Saudi Arabia and an agreement was signed between them under which 15000 Pakistani troops were garrisoned in Saudi Arabia. When the Soviets assaulted Afghanistan in 1979, Saudi Arabia also then supported Pakistan and offered a generous donation to assist Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. When Holy Kabba had been hemmed in by the radicals in 1979, Pakistan also then sent its troops to Saudi Arabia to safeguard it.
Pakistan is the fifth largest country in the world and has the honour of being the only nuclear power among the Muslim countries. Raison d’être of making Pakistan a nuclear power was to protect it from foreign attacks especially from India. Its prime mover was the late Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan(Nuclear father of Pakistan). Pakistan is now regnant to the rest of the world and its sworn enemies India, USA and Israel are afraid of it to some extent because they are completely incognizant of what kind of material has been used in its nuclear power. All credit goes to Dr A.Qadeer khan. More than 2.5 million Pakistanis are working in Saudi Arabia who send the foreign exchange back to their beloved homeland. The Gulf region hosts more than 8.5 million Indian workers, with more than 2.7 million in Saudi Arabia alone,30 per cent of UAE’s population comprises Indians. During the recent visit of Muhammad Bin Salman (crown prince of Saudi Arabia) in 2019, a colossal investment package of 20 billion dollars was ratified between the two countries for the construction of energy and other projects in Gwadar.
The Saudi Foreign Minister prince Faisal also visited Pakistan this July and met Pakistani officials along with PM Imran Khan and reviewed ties to enhance relations under Saudi-Pakistan Coordination Council. Under the Saudi vision of 2030, it aims to enhance employment that would also open a plethora of opportunities for Pakistani nationals. Saudi Arabia requires at least 10 million workers for the next ten years and a gigantic chunk will be provided by Pakistan. Both countries are agreed to resolve the Kashmir dispute. Saudi Arabia has offered to mediate between India and Pakistan via dialogues. Honourable Prime Minister Imran Khan also went to the US to address the 74th UN Session. He clearly told the world to stand for the vulnerable Kashmiris who are fighting for their right to self-determination and many of them die every day from contretemps by Indian troops in occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He said, ‘If there is a war between India and Pakistan, its dire consequences will be far beyond the borders and most likely their abutting countries would be affected the most. The world must raise its voice in favour of Kashmiris where they don’t enjoy their congenital fundamental dues.
Kashmir is a flashpoint between India and Pakistan that can trigger a war that is looming large over the heads of these countries and its ramifications will be disastrous for the world.
I would like to conclude this article with Faiz Ahmad Faiz’s poem which is exceedingly harrowing and clearly enunciates Kashmir people’s sufferings.
“The day when the mountains of oppressions of oppression,
Will blow away like whips of cotton
When the earth will dance beneath the feet of once enslaved:
And heavens will shake with thunder
Over the heads of tyrants,
We, the rejects of the earth,
Will be raised to a place of honour.
All crowns’ll be tossed in the air,
All thrones’ll be smashed.”
After reading these lines of legendary Faiz Sahib, tears are formed into one’s eyes and hearts fill with agony in favour of the people of Kashmir. They will get justice and leeway from Indian oppressions someday.
The writer can be reached at hamza.malick0341@gmail.com.
