Pak assures ‘unconditional support’ to Saudi Arabia

Adel Al Jubeir in Islamabad to share details of Saudi-led security front.

Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister had landed, on Thursday, in Pakistan for a planned two-day visit during which he met the Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif according to a Reuters report.

Pakistan on Thursday welcomed Saudi Arabia’s initiative to form a military coalition of 34 countries to fight “terrorism” in the Islamic world.

The Saudi royal Prince is the second Minister of Saudi Arabia to visit Pakistan this week. The visiting Foreign Minister also held delegation level talks with Advisor to the Prime Minister Sartaj Aziz.

In a separate rally in the capital, an estimated 1,500 people chanted slogans against Saudi’s execution of Shiite cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on January 2, which sparked a deepening crisis between Riyadh and regional rival Iran. Last year, for instance, Pakistan reportedly received $1.5 billion in aid from Saudi Arabia to meet debt obligations and bolster its foreign exchange reserves.

The difficulty was evident as Pakistan could not afford to ignore Saudi Arabia’s request, given its close relations with the Saudi monarchy. A joint press conference with Mr. Aziz and Mr Jubeir was was cancelled. However, officials in Islamabad insist the country will take a final decision to become part of the alliance after getting more details.

The 34-nation alliance does not include countries such as Iran, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pakistan fears that escalating tensions between the oil- rich nations would cause further instability on its soil just as Islamic State is attempting to forge a presence in a country already home to a range of extremist groups.

With the declaration of the alliance and Pakistan’s inclusion, things were again up in the air as Pakistan initially denied being consulted.

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Ming was now in Saudi Arabia and would travel on to Iran, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

The visit of Saudi foreign minister assumed greater significance in the wake of rising tensions between Riyadh and Tehran.

Foreign Minister Al-Jubeir also briefed the prime minister on the recent situation in the Kingdom’s relations with Iran. He also expressed deep concern at the escalation of the situation and condemned the burning down of Saudi Embassy in Tehran.