Pakistan reiterates support to Saudi Arabia amid Saudi Minister Insulting remarks

During their visit to Saudi Arabia on Thursday, the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif once again assured Riyadh of its support in the prevailing crisis in Yemen despite the insulting remarks of Saudi defense minister Mohammad Bin Salman against Pakistani Nation, Parliament and armed forces.

Pakistan also expressed its deep concerns regarding increasing threats to regional peace and stability in the Middle East and emphasised that there was a dire need to ensure that the region did not get affected by further destabilisation by terrorist groups and other non-state actors.

“Pakistan and Saudi arabia have agreed that this alarming and unacceptable trend will destabilise the Middle East and encourage militants everywhere to challenge the state authority with violence,” the Foreign Office (FO) said in a communique following the visit.

The FO also said that Pakistan made it clear to Riyadh that it was not only the responsibility of the Saudi-led coalition to defeat the trend but of the entire international community as well.

The communique said that Prime Minister Nawaz held a detailed meeting with Saudi king Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, which was followed by a meeting with the crown prince Muqrin bin Abdul aziz.

Pakistan also extended support for the political objectives of the Saudi-led coalition for restoring the legitimate government in Yemen and removing Houthis from territories they have seized, including Yemen’s capital Sana’a. On the other hand, Pakistan also offered help in providing humanitarian assistance to Yemenis.

Pakistan supports UN resolution on Yemen

Pakistan also expressed its support for the implementation of UN Resolution 2216 and play a positive role in promoting peace to resolve the crisis in Yemen.

Apart from an economic and political relationship, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan also have a resilient defence relationship and both countries have agreed to expand their existing cooperation on security and intelligence. Both sides also expressed their condemnation of all manifestations of terrorism and reiterated their desire to strengthen cooperation against the issue.

Saudi Defense Minister Insulting Remarks

Its pertaining to mention here that Saudi Arabian Defence Minister Muhammad Bin Suleman Alesaud has used insulting words for Pakistan and its armed forces, saying that Pakistanis are frauds.

Talking to the Egyptian news paper AlNehar , the Saudi minister used these words in response to the national assembly’s decision to keep Pakistan neutral in the ongoing Yemen crisis.

He said that Pakistan was proud of its armed forces who have simply failed to handle their internal affairs related to the activities of takfiri terrorists funded by Saudi Arabia.

He criticized Pakistani government for its tall claims about democracy, and said that they were dependant on our Khairat and Sadqat (Charity funds) but talked about dignity and sovereignty. He said Saudi Arabia always supported Pakistan.

“We do not need any help from Pakistan; we do not want assistance from those people who are inferior working in Saudi Arabia. They always tried to appease us for their economical needs. They are liars trying to convince us toward peace and negotiation; this is disgusting,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention here that UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash has also rejected Saudi demands for Islamabad to join its military coalition against Houthi rebels.