Saudi Arabia snubs Pakistan on Jammu & Kashmir |
After Pakistan`s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi publicly berated Saudi Arabia for failing to allow the OIC to stand with Pakistan against India on Jammu& Kashmir, Pakistan was compelled to prepay a $1 billion loan to Saudi Arabia a few days ago, part of a $3.2 billion loan given in 2018. In a TV show, Qureshi was quoted as saying, “I am once again respectfully telling OIC that a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers is our expectation. If you cannot convene it, then I`ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris.” For months, Pakistan has been trying to convene a meeting of OIC foreign ministers in Islamabad to condemn India`s actions. Saudi Arabia has reportedly stood in the way, only allowing an OIC contact group meeting. Pakistan has not received any comfort from the UAE either, who have followed Saudi Arabia on this. Some Pakistan observers believe it won`t be long before Pakistan sends a high-level delegation to Riyadh to make amends. It would be damaging if Saudi Arabia were to decide to return Pakistani workers in the kingdom and replace them, as they had once threatened. Two other factors have come into play: First, the growing ties between the Gulf Arab states and India, and second, China`s presence.
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