Pakistan has been the beneficiary of large Saudi assistance in the past five years, especially in the form of Saudi Arabia's oil facility which extends more than a third of Islamabad's oil imports effectively free of charge. It's a facility which has helped Pakistan deal with the economic fallout from its maiden nuclear tests of 1998, followed by global punitive economic sanctions.
The bilateral security and economic ties go back almost three decades in the shape of Pakistan's deployment of troops to the kingdom for security duties and the export of a large work force recruited by a number of industries including the oil industry.
In return, Pakistan has carefully remained on Saudi Arabia's side at important global diplomatic forums while also offering entrepreneurs from the kingdom with the opportunity of taking up new investment opportunities.
Later this year, the planned privatisation of Pakistan State Oil, PSO, the country's largest oil marketing company would be an important test case towards this end, as one of the three prospective buyers is a Saudi business group.
Active determinant
Crown Prince Abdullah's visit to Pakistan has left the regime of General Pervez Musharraf, the military ruler, with the clear impression that scope for further cooperation remains an active determinant of bilateral relations. The oil facility which remains the pillar stone of Saudi assistance to Pakistan, according to Pakistani officials, is expected to continue beyond an earlier plan to conclude the arrangement later this year.
As an attempt to broaden the security relationship, public statements from Prince Saud Al Faisal, the Saudi Foreign minister, and Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri, his Pakistani counterpart, reinforcing the point that the decision to deploy peacekeeping troops in Iraq must be a consequence of a call from a representative Iraqi regime, spoke volumes over the shared anxieties related to the circumstances in Iraq.
Clearly, neither the Saudis nor the Pakistanis appear willing to respond to the call from US president George Bush for the contribution of Pakistani troops for Iraq related peacekeeping duties.
Another attempt to broaden the security tie comes from Pakistan's push to seek Saudi orders for arms purchases from Islamabad's modest but nevertheless emerging arms industry. In time, the provision of small to medium sized weaponry by Pakistan may indeed provide a new plank to Pak-Saudi ties.
Despite a track record of close ties, Pak-Saudi relations live with the danger of succumbing to the fallout from the two most significant challenges faced by Pakistan. On the one hand, Pakistan's domestic stability must remain a matter of concern to the country's closest friends.
While Saudi Arabia may not rate Pakistan's lack of democracy as the primary issue to its interests, it would certainly be concerned about the increasing uncertainty triggered by the ongoing deadlock in parliament and increasing polarisation among the country's main political players. Uncertainty must always be destabilising for any country including Pakistan as often exhibited through the country's many bouts with its troubled democracy.
On the other hand, the end result of Pakistan's campaign to attack issues related to the challenge of curbing terrorism must appear prominent on Saudi Arabia's radar screen. In sharp contrast to the past when the Saudis established linkages with a number of groups dedicated to militancy, the kingdom has not remained immune to the fallout from the New York terrorist attacks.
Additionally, each time that references are made to Osama bin Laden, his Saudi heritage comes across as a reminder of his origins. Clearly, Pakistan's success in attacking the linkages to terrorist activities and helping to bring the bitter chapter of the so called war on terror to an end, must be a consoling factor to Saudi Arabia.
As Pakistan searches for ways to expand its ties with Saudi Arabia, it must do so with the objective of establishing innovative new ideas for deepening mutual ideas. As a follow up to PSO's planned privatisation, Pakistan could expand its ties with Saudi Arabia by setting aside other government owned companies for privatization to investors from the kingdom on a preferential basis.
Similarly, the tradition of once attracting large number of Saudi students for education at Pakistan's institutions of higher learning, appears to have taken a back seat since its high days in the 70s.
A new initiative to establish fresh linkages with Saudi educational institutions may productively be pushed by Pakistan in ways such as reserving special seats at professional colleges offering degrees in engineering, medicine and the arts.
Renewed efforts
But facilitating the needs of Saudi businessmen and other professionals must be undertaken by Pakistan with renewed efforts in areas such as the promise of ensuring top quality service.
In the past, a litany of complaints from businessmen such as importers from other countries bitterly questioning the difference between Pakistani specimens and actual exports, has only undermined the reputation of the country in its export markets.
Clearly, any mishaps such as similar controversies surrounding trade ties with Saudi Arabia are bound to not only harm Pakistan's export prospects but also throw in to disarray some of the goodwill earned after years of close cooperation.
The writer is a Pakistan-based commentator who writes on political and economic matters. He can be contacted at fbokhari.opinion@gulfnews.com
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