ISLAMABAD, Jan 31: “Anything we do with India will not be at the expense of our relations with Pakistan. That is crystal clear. Nothing in the world could affect our relations and whatever we do will contribute to stability and prosperity of Pakistan.”

This was the assurance held out by Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri while addressing a press conference on the eve of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz’s state visit to Pakistan that he described as ‘historic’.

Mr Asseri said the visit would yield many positive results for both countries. In this context, he mentioned the five agreements that would be signed during the visit to promote bilateral cooperation.

The agreements pertain to avoidance of double taxation, vocational training, science and technology, higher education, and political consultations between the foreign ministries. Some proposals to promote bilateral trade will also be discussed during the visit.

He said the fact that this was King Abdullah’s second visit to Islamabad in the past two years signified the importance that he attached to relations with Pakistan. His last visit was as Crown Prince.

Drawing attention to the enormous scope for expansion of bilateral relations in the trade and commerce sector, he said: “The relations in this sector do not quite match the closeness that characterizes the relations between our two countries in the political sector.”

He called upon the entrepreneurs and business people of the two countries to be more proactive and take the initiative in this regard.

On the question of increase in manpower export to Saudi Arabia from Pakistan, his candid response was: “What we need is skill...focus on best skilled labour to attract the Saudi market.”

Ambassador Asseri said the Saudi king would discuss with the Pakistani leaders regional and global issues, including Iran and Palestine. He said members of the king’s delegation would meet their Pakistani counterparts.

In reply to a question whether the Kashmir issue would be on the agenda of talks the Saudi king would hold with the Pakistani leadership, he said: “I don’t want to include or exclude issues; all aspects of the issues would be discussed.”

He said Kashmir issue had been of concern to Saudi Arabia, underlining that the kingdom had supported the United Nations resolutions on the dispute.

When asked about the role the Saudi government could play in this context, he said: “We are encouraging the existing dialogue between Pakistan and India, and hope with wisdom and determination this issue would be resolved peacefully.”

Referring to the issue of terrorism, he said Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were determined to fight terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

On the Iran nuclear issue, he said: “We would like the Iran issue to be resolved peacefully.”

The ambassador was noncommittal on the question whether India’s request for the observer status at the OIC should even be considered before the Kashmir issue was resolved and given India’s criticism of the pan-Islamic body. At first, he said, the OIC was governed by its laws and rules but later posed a counter-question: “How do you know India wants to be in the OIC?”

Referring to his earlier clarification with reference to the interview the Saudi king gave to the Indian channel NDTV recently, he said the king had made it clear that such a move would be subject to endorsement by Pakistan.