Prince Mohammad, COAS discuss security cooperation
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ISLAMABAD: Saudi Defence Minister Mohammad bin Salman was upbeat after a brief stopover in Islamabad on his way to an extended East Asia trip.
Soon after his departure from Islamabad after a late-night meeting which continued into the early hours of Monday morning, he sent a ‘thank-you note’ to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, saying that his few hours in the Pakistani capital and military headquarters “underlined the depth of the strategic relationship between the two countries”.
He noted that his stay in Islamabad afforded him the opportunity to “discuss issues of common interest”.
The Saudi defence minister’s visit, the second this year, took place at a time when Riyadh was feeling pressure in its neighbourhood — particularly the setbacks in the 18-month-long conflict in Yemen, and growing prospects of US military cooperation with Russia, which backs President Assad, in Syria even though it is aimed against Al Qaeda and the militant Islamic State (IS) group.
Prince Mohammad bin Salman, according to a source, sought reassurances from its long-time ally in view of the changing geo-political situation.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) provided a broad outline of the minister’s agenda in Islamabad.
It said the Saudi defence minister, in his nearly half-hour long meeting with Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, discussed “regional security with particular focus on the Middle East, and issues of bilateral relations, including defence cooperation and collaboration”.
Gen Raheel Sharif, dressed in full ceremonial gear, received the Saudi minister at the GHQ at about 1:45am.
Notwithstanding Islamabad’s refusal to become part of the Yemen war, Pakistan has an active security cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia under which about 1,000 Pakistani military advisers are serving there. Additionally, the Pakistani government has a standing commitment to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia.
Although there were no new commitments in the public statement from the military, the Prime Minister Office in a statement said: “PM Sharif and Saudi defence minister pledged to further enhance the bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries and strengthen their cooperation in diverse fields.”
Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2016
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Comments (54) Closed
Aug 30, 2016 08:54am
Raheel Sharif has very impressive personality
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Aug 30, 2016 09:24am
China should talk to OPEC and convince them to accept only Yuan as currency for their oil exports, this the only way to bring US and its ally India down and bring peace in ME and around the world, this will also bring India to negotiating table on kashmir bcos without US to back India, it will be under severe disadvantage and will have to agree to what China,Pakistan and OIC have to say.
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Aug 30, 2016 09:34am
@Khan of KPK ,You are absolutely right.
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Aug 30, 2016 10:03am
Saudis themselves are suffering from massive economic challenges. Don't even have enough money to pay expat workers their salaries. Making a pact with such nations with a bleak future is like putting petrol in car without an engine
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Aug 30, 2016 11:01am
@Lokarlobaat
very aptly said
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Aug 30, 2016 11:48am
@Zak Your ideas are great imagination which does not work in practical life. Give some time to think about status of your own currency as well
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Aug 30, 2016 12:03pm
@Zak The world has changed. US has more proven oil reserves than any other country in the world and there is technology available to extract that oil at a cheap rate. Oil is not much of a bargaining chip for negotiating with US.
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Aug 30, 2016 12:07pm
@Zak ... I am amazed by your imagination .... but all whims cannot be executed ... I hope you know this.
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Aug 30, 2016 12:12pm
Meeting-meeting-meeting without an agenda or outcome. In reality nothing is happening except meetings. This time no Houbara bustard killing, so we Pakistanis appreciate this change in behavior.
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Aug 30, 2016 12:18pm
The dependence on oil is slowly declining. To succeed as an Individual and as a nation you need to have the right philosophy. Unfortunately, the arrogant Arabs will learn the lesson in the hard way. Japan in spite of meager natural resources has progressed and prospered and the Arabs all threes years have focused only on enjoyment. The Arabs will start to behave as humans within this decade.
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Aug 30, 2016 12:58pm
India is expecting $ 200 billion just in the solar power sector.This will mean no more oil imports after 15 yrs.GDP is4th highest in the world today behind US,China and Japan.By 2040 it will be the largest economy and biggest Superpower on Earth
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Aug 30, 2016 01:01pm
World is moving to Solar power.India will recieve $200 billion in solar sector.India will stop importing oil in 15 yrs.In Europe wind mills are being developed hence oil prices have plunged to 10 yr lows
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Aug 30, 2016 01:29pm
@Rajan agreed
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Aug 30, 2016 01:37pm
Pak-Saudi relationship is crucially important for both countries and is one of those unique situations in international relations where its perfectly symbiotic. Both need each other for a lot of good reasons and leadership on both sides should further cultivate it as it would reap mutual benefits considering the change in balance of power we're seeing around the world.
Saudi need to leverage Pakistan's strengths and we need to utilized theirs for this relationship to become more mature, deeply strategic and fruitful.
This, along with China can be one of the most critical strategic relationship for Pakistan and we need to capitalize on mutual strength by having formal defense and economic agreements.
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Aug 30, 2016 02:11pm
Saudi Arabia was friend with the USA . Now the usa have used them and don't have the same need and will make new friends.
Teach them a lesson .
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Aug 30, 2016 02:38pm
@Sam The cost of production and supply is far higher to rest of the world from US.
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Aug 30, 2016 02:44pm
Saudi should make major investments in Pakistan, and Pakistan must strengthen Saudi's defence, Pakistan Saudi friendly relation is as old as Pakistan's age, with China coming into it will definitely make it very good and strategic, Pakistan should invite Saudi in CPEC opportunities and also bring in Turkey...Long live Pakistan's friendship with Saudi, China and Turkey.Ameen.
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Aug 30, 2016 02:51pm
Good opportunity for Pakistan to extend its influence in greater middle east. With American-Indian military pact, Pakistan needs to solidify its existing alliance on mutually beneficial basis while exploring possibilities with alliance with Russia very much on the cards. We should market CPEC towards greater middle east for their energy export towards energy hungry China. They can divert their "US bound" oil to China via CPEC in most cost effective way, and express their grievance while not losing any money.
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Aug 30, 2016 04:06pm
It is time for KSA to form a new strategy for the future of the 2ingdom.
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Aug 30, 2016 04:25pm
@Zak You have more understanding of Chines power and potentials than Chinese themselves. It is a smart idea to harness the synergies created by joint Saudi and Chines efforts. Pakistan will be a natural beneficiary because of the Pakistani strategic relation ship with both. You must be a genius.
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Aug 30, 2016 04:42pm
What did he want? No more participation in wars.
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Aug 30, 2016 04:57pm
@Zak -better you stick to your Marvel and DC comic and movies. Real life is a little bit more serious.
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Aug 30, 2016 05:36pm
@Indipendent I agree.
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Aug 30, 2016 05:40pm
Whenever a crisis occurs, they come to pakistan to take advice. Pakistan told them do not go into yemen. They chided Pakistan and went in. Got stuck and Now they have come back asking how to come out safely. Again pakistan will guide them out. China-Pakistan-Saudi Arabia, all part of CPEC.
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Aug 30, 2016 05:44pm
This close friendship should be reflected in Middle East media. IOK should be covered as much as Palistine.
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Aug 30, 2016 06:29pm
@Taimoor Khan It will be like putting seed in salt to grow, Saudis are not foolish to invest in Pakistan. look at what kind of environment we have created for ourselves. Saudis are here for their own troubles, not to prosperous us or invest in Pakistan, only we can change it by creating friendly environment in the neighborhood to prosperous, not by burning down the bridges. Look at India how they are rising in all directions. Look at the image they have made of themselves, does any body trust us in the world. We are good only at conspiracies which in the end back fire on us. Terrorism is not a good tool anymore, it is consuming our nation. To rise, we will have to create friendly relations with India by building mutual trust and destroy plague of terrorism that once Pakistan thought was benefitting it.
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Aug 30, 2016 06:57pm
@Zak I'm totally agree with you. Nice suggestions friend
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Aug 30, 2016 06:57pm
It is good to see strong partnership between brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Pakistan should do whatever possible to uphold the human rights of South Asians stranded in that country without pay for several months due to Saudi companies not honoring their commitment with regards to salaries and wages of its workers. It is not acceptable that thousands of migrant workers are not paid their wages for several months in Saudi Arabia due to tough economic times in the Kingdom.
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Aug 30, 2016 07:08pm
Did our govt discuss poor conditions of Pakistani workers in Saud and pending salaries????
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Aug 30, 2016 07:26pm
Who are we fooling by pretending that Saudis are stretching their their hand of friendship?
The Saudis are in a mess in Yemen and are here for Pakistan to help them out and as history would tell, Pakistan would readily accommodate the orders.
Dictatorships would never serve anyone's interest apart from themselves!
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Aug 30, 2016 07:29pm
@Zak : It seems economics is not your strongest subject.
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Aug 30, 2016 07:35pm
@Khan of KPK to begin with we should start buying oil in yuan and stop any transactions in $! Others will follow ...right?
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Aug 30, 2016 07:43pm
@Zak;
'convince them to accept only Yuan as currency for their oil exports'
Iran is already doing that, not for all exports but for exports to China. Iran has also worked out a deal with China which eliminates the need of buying shipping insurance, which is usually purchased from third parties, mostly UK.
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Aug 30, 2016 08:57pm
@Zak India was paying in INR to Iran during the sanctions,China was paying to Iran in Chinese currency.Did'nt see US and India weaken economically.Use your head before u post nonsense.
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Aug 30, 2016 09:29pm
Zak we tried that in time of 'Iran sanctions' doesn't work properly. In the end both India and China had to pay them back in Euro or in $. Saying so using less $ In the foreign trade is a idea that still need refinement.
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Aug 30, 2016 09:37pm
@Rajan If by that time you can insure 3 meals for every indian and proper bathrooms then you have every right to become a super power.
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Aug 30, 2016 09:51pm
Great discussion on PAKISTANI workers who have not received salaries past maany month and who are working in Saudi Arabia
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Aug 30, 2016 11:21pm
These days I am reading Dawn just to read Zak's comments. ZAk is incredible daily dose of humor
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Aug 31, 2016 12:25am
@Iftikhar Husain it has, it is aligned with new super power India.
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Aug 31, 2016 12:37am
NRO deal got ignored by our bravest General.
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Aug 31, 2016 01:36am
The world politics is changing, pakistan, saudia must cooperate on strategic grounds. These two brother countries have supported each other through every ebb and flow in the past and will extend their cooperation further in future. After being betrayed by US time and again, they both should learn lessons from the past and should look forward to China and Russia. China's progress is very satisfactory towards becoming a worlds super power in near future, hope Pakistan ,saudia and china relations will prevail in future,it's time to think critically.
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Aug 31, 2016 01:50am
@Zak "China should talk to OPEC..... " I feel China should not just talk, they should write an email to OPEC about this...
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Aug 31, 2016 02:01am
@Salaam Namaste status of indian rupaya is great. 80 great india rupaya to one Amrican dholar.
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Aug 31, 2016 07:56am
@Basit Ali absolutely right.
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Aug 31, 2016 08:55am
Please ask them to do something for stranded Pakistanis in KSA. We give every country what they want of us but we never ask in return what is good for Pakistan and its people.
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Aug 31, 2016 03:24pm
@Zak
Wow what a simplistic solution.
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Aug 31, 2016 03:28pm
@Lokarlobaat Friendships should not be based on Economic situations of countries. Saudi Stood by Pakistan when needed the most. Time to pay back.
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Aug 31, 2016 04:31pm
Alternative energy sources was not being allowed to be developed due to the lobbying of Middle East countries. Now, either they are busy in wars or facing the challanges due to low prices and energy alternatives at the brink of commercialization
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Aug 31, 2016 05:08pm
Bad news for Pakistan-more onvolvement.
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Aug 31, 2016 06:43pm
@Jaleel ,couldn't agree more. Pakistan need to be proactive and pragmatic in its foreign policy.The world is changing fast. Shale gas,alternative energy resources are helping developed and developing countries alike to benefit from them in the long run.Arabs' only diplomatic leverage tool,oil, is becoming irrelevant in international politics. It's high time they learnt from history and start behaving like civilized humans. The All Mighty God loves all its creatures without any discrimination.
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Aug 31, 2016 07:50pm
@Sam you are obviously not aware that US Shale oil is only economic at around $60-70 per barrel. Saudi Oil is profitable at less than $20 per barrel.
Saudi Oil will be major oil player for decades to come yet.
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Aug 31, 2016 08:21pm
@Abdul you obviously have not understood what Zak was talking about at all, its about replacing the US dollar as a reserve currency. Zak was absolutely right.
it is you who needs to read before opening his mouth.
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Aug 31, 2016 09:54pm
@akram
cOME ON !........SAUDI OIL cost itself is around $25 - 30 depending on well. only above that they can make any NET profit which is teh income for the country.............. uS shale oil break even point had come down to 25 - 40 $ owing to economies of scale !
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Sep 01, 2016 09:50am
Saudis eare becoming desperate... I would not trust them at all... under the facade, they are still sponsoring madrassah's which causing unrest in Pakistan. What kind of co-operation are required to do?
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