COAS to visit S. Arabia on 16th
40
ISLAMABAD: The army chief will visit Saudi Arabia this weekend, officials said, seeking to calm diplomatic strains over Kashmir as financial support for Islamabad hangs in the balance.
The two countries are traditionally close and Saudi Arabia in 2018 gave Pakistan a $3 billion loan and $3.2bn oil credit facility to help its balance of payments crisis.
But Riyadh is irked by criticism from Pakistan that Saudi Arabia has been lukewarm on the Kashmir territorial dispute, two senior military officials told Reuters, motivating Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s planned visit on Sunday.
“Yes he is travelling,” Pakistan army spokesman Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar told Reuters, though the official line was that the visit was pre-planned and “primarily military affairs oriented”.
Saudia Arabia made Pakistan pay back $1bn two weeks ago, forcing it to borrow from close ally China, and Riyadh is yet to respond to Pakistan’s request to extend the oil credit facility.
Published in Dawn, August 13th, 2020
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (40) Closed
Aug 13, 2020 08:44am
So we borrowed 1 billion from China???
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 08:45am
Bajwas are everywhere !!!
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 08:50am
IK and COAS, working beautifully for Pakistan. Nightmares for the mischievous enemy.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 08:51am
Saudi know they need Pakistan more than Pakistan needs them.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 08:53am
Salute to the Pak army they are performing municipal services in the Karachi, helping flood affected people and foreign services too.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:08am
Pakistan must join hands with India
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:10am
Reality strikes!
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:31am
IK not going?
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:34am
Damage control !!
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:35am
They have to Rush Whenever they are Summoned...(to fight their Wars...)
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:41am
Now COAS has taken matters in his own hands
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:43am
@za, yes u r right.army is doing everything in pakistan.politician are load on the country.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:51am
This trip was on cards after interview by SMQ against KSA & OIC. On cue, Mr. Bajwa!!!
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:51am
@Fastrack,
"Saudi know they need Pakistan more than Pakistan needs them..."
Yes Correct.... To Fight their Wars...
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:53am
@Fastrack, Everyone has license to dream. Saudi is not dependent on Pakistan. Pakistan is dependent on KSA for Grants, Loans, Oil and Remittance.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:55am
Time to show mirror to Saudis.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 09:56am
@Fastrack, "Saudi know they need Pakistan more than Pakistan needs them."
Really?
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 10:01am
Because of Mr Qureshi ?
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 10:20am
All eggs in one basket.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 10:25am
MBS told who is the boss.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 10:30am
@Haramullahvista, yes
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 10:38am
Damage control??
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 10:54am
@Fastrack, that is what you are thinking.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:12am
Until unless you have money nothing you can do..
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:13am
Complete mess !
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:13am
Who is running the country ?
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:19am
Too much interference from the military and judiciary in executive affairs which is primarily a function of the civil government.The powers of the civil government has been curtailed which is not in the long term interest of the country.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:21am
@Fastrack, you can do without them
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:25am
Qureshi not joining?
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:28am
He need to clean up mess created by fm...
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:28am
if SA not falling in line, call back all Pakistani and stop taking oil also force China to do the same
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:33am
Damage control?
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:37am
Pakistan should withdraw all it's citizens from unfriendly Saudi Arabia.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:38am
@Fastrack, Then you are going Saudi or Saudi is coming to you.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:42am
We need to resolve the issue diplomatically. Instead of deteriorating our relations with Saudi Arabia we should give diplomacy a chance convincing our brethren that we are a sovereign nation, and we are free to develop our relations with other states as we want. We can develop our group of Islamic nations to garner support for Kashmir cause if Saudi Arabia or UAE are not willing to help us.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:44am
This episode teaches us a lesson. Never put all your eggs in one basket whether it is China, Saudis, and Turkey. They all are our great friends but too much dependence causes trouble.
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 11:47am
All the best
Recommend
0
Aug 13, 2020 01:05pm
@KSRana, "Then you are going Saudi or Saudi is coming to you." Trump went to Saudi Arabia on his first visit abroad, not Saudi king to US. What do you conclude?
Recommend
0
Aug 14, 2020 05:11pm
Someone tell him NOT to forget a big mirror...
Recommend
0
Aug 15, 2020 12:09am
@Neutral Observer, Sure!
Recommend
0
