Pakistan has traditionally maintained that its bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is its “most important diplomatic relationship.” Developments in Saudi Arabia last week appear to have hinged to a significant degree on the close relationship that the Kingdom shares with the Pakistani military.
Besides both being members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the two have long maintained a strong military relationship. Pakistani military personnel frequently serve in Saudi Arabia and its last army chief, General Raheel Sharif, now heads a 41-nation Islamic army coalition based out of Riyadh. Sharif’s accession was seen as Islamabad picking sides with Saudi Arabia against Iran.
On October 26, the Pakistani Army concluded Al-Saman 6, a three-week military exercise with the Saudi Royal Land Forces. Drills included use of live ammunition, ambushing, combat patrolling and special training on how to deal with IEDs, under commanding officer Lieutenant General Akram Al Haq from the 30th Corps of the Pakistani Army. Pakistan has also been keen to sell arms to Saudi Arabia and has enjoyed Saudi support while developing its nuclear weapons program.
On October 16, Pakistan Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man behind the purge against senior Saudi members of the royal family, on the sidelines of an ‘anti-terror’ conference organized by the Saudi Defense Ministry in Riyadh. General Bajwa also visited Tehran on November 6, and, according to reliable diplomatic sources, discussed cooperation on missile technology and the visit of Iranian scientists to SUPARCO, Pakistan’s official space agency. That visit was seen as a move to assuage Iranian concerns over Pakistan’s deep involvement with the Saudis.
The meeting with Crown Prince Salman came a little over two months after General Bajwa hosted Saudi Deputy Defense Minister Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Aysh in Rawalpindi, where Saudi domestic security was discussed in detail. “Of course, there was no hunch of the arrests and the political upheaval that we’ve seen over the past week or so back then, but in recent months there has been a clear urgency in Riyadh with regards to Pakistan’s involvement in its security,” a senior military official told Asia Times on condition of strict anonymity.
Riyadh has been actively pursuing Islamabad’s military resources on two counts: its own territorial integrity, and Pakistan’s participation in the Islamic Military Alliance against Terrorism (IMAT), the aforementioned organization commanded by General Sharif.
“Even if the Pakistani troops aren’t physically involved in an attack on Iran – or in Yemen, Qatar or Lebanon – the fact that we are bolstering Saudi defense domestically naturally makes us an integral part of their camp”
General Sharif had been rumored to be on the verge of quitting the IMAT on the grounds that Riyadh’s demand for ‘Sunni only’ military personnel was “sectarian.” However, these rumors were quashed when he told the Middle East Military Alliance and Coordination Conference last month that it was an “honor for him to be part of Saudi-led Islamic Military Alliance as a commander.”
Pakistani officials are at pains to describe General Sharif’s involvement as not being a reflection of Pakistan’s foreign policy. “General Raheel Sharif is leading the IMAT in his private capacity. His decisions do not reflect the official Pakistani policy – although one can understand why any of his actions can be construed as such, and we’re sure he’s perfectly aware of that,” a senior government official told Asia Times. “In any case, [General Sharif] has said on record that he won’t participate in any exercise designed against a specific country, and wants to lead a unified fight against the likes of ISIS.”
Lieutenant General Talat Masood, a former secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Defense Production, told Asia Times, meanwhile, that “Sharif is functioning ‘independent of Pakistan’ and is focused on better equipping” the Saudi troops. “He is currently helping improve capabilities of the Saudi armed forces that would eventually be a part of the IMAT. He isn’t commanding the Pakistani troops that are deployed in the kingdom to defend Saudi territorial integrity and are contractually limited to Saudi domestic matters,” he said.
Military analyst Hassan Askari Rizvi, author of The Military and Politics in Pakistan, said Pakistani military involvement in Saudi Arabia is primarily for training purposes. “The Pakistan Army is providing a lot of support functions. This is because there are no professional forces in the region. With the exception of the Turkish Army, most of the armies in the Middle East are ceremonial. So in case of a conflict the Pakistan Army naturally takes center stage,” he told Asia Times.
While both civil and military officials maintain that Pakistan has conveyed its unflinching neutrality to Riyadh, vis-à-vis Iran, in reality Islamabad is treading a fine line. “Even if the Pakistani troops aren’t physically involved in an attack on Iran – or in Yemen, Qatar or Lebanon – the fact that we are bolstering Saudi defense domestically naturally makes us an integral part of their camp,” a retired Army officer told Asia Times. “When Pakistani troops are positioned to protect areas being shelled by Houthi rebels, they are technically guarding Saudi boundaries, but we’re also clearly picking our side in the conflict.”
when israeli comming in india,and tell you tektick of war, who sides are india then?
Pakistan is more dangerous than Iran in the region.
Please don’t allow Pakistan to have influence in middle east region.
Pakistan has more fundamentalist than Iran.pakistan is another kind of cancer once this paki cancer has it’s way to middle East this cancer is not gonna heal.
Pakistan might gonna arm every one with terrorist and suicides vest.
Pakistan is looking forward to have it’s way open to middle East
Pakistan has political and economic problems, this can result in nukes can get into the wrong hands. Ex. CIA expert Bruce Riedel say there is an agreement Pakistan will supply the Saudis with nukes if needed. https://youtu.be/fS6xpmg-3u4?t=1h8m10s
How about Indian ties with the apartheid Zionist State of Israel? India is conducting joint military exercises with the IDF. Asia Time is too blind not to see this.
Replace Pakistan with "Afghanistan" with an assistance of new terror master "India".
We live in an age of Islamophobia. Israel rules America. So if the Israeli lobby has been sucesssful in dumping of Pakistan by the US administration and moving clsoer to India, there are no surprises. America is losing in Afghanistan. Pakistan is the only country to have fought Terrorists sucessfully.
What India do best. Meddle the neighborhood, smear the neighbor, and the cancer of south Asia.
Barking Indian and shitless Afghani dogs would seldom bite…hahah..lol..Keep crying …we are coming to conquer both of ya…!!
Imran Hasan tail??? You are wagging tail for American dollars Chinese feeders and now Saudi watch dog services…where is the honour???
Zaheer Akhtar yes terrorists build dams and port’s…
Red crosses on Muslim homes in India: After the scare, Ahmedabad police call it crude, not mischief
A day after red cross marks had appeared on the walls of some residential societies in Ahmedabad, alarming Muslim residents, the city police said these were not a work of mischief but a “crude” job by an agency that had been tasked with identifying houses for a garbage collection project.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said that the agency, which it had engaged for identifying the houses, was not supposed to have painted those marks and should only have put stickers on the houses identified.
The crosses had been painted on walls in Paldi, a mixed neighbourhood of Muslims, Jains and Hindus. Marked outside the homes of Muslims and Hindus, these were whited out Tuesday.
Alarmed Muslim residents of Delight Flats, Paldi, had written to the Election Commission as well as the Ahmedabad police commissioner Monday. “Such marking has left many in the Muslim community in shock and fear as it is done by some unknown element, and shows clear purpose of identifying Muslim areas,” they said.
Read more:
http://indianexpress.com/elections/gujarat-assembly-elections-2017/red-crosses-on-muslim-homes-after-the-scare-ahmedabad-police-call-it-crude-not-mischief-4937897/
"Nazi-type" vermillion crosses spotted on Ahmedabad’s Muslim homes in India
A well-known human rights site, http://www.sabrangindia.in, run by Teesta Setalvad, who has fought several cases for the 2002 anti-minority Gujarat riot victims, has claimed to have found that several of the Muslim houses in different parts of Ahmedabad, India, have been identified and crossed, alleging these are similar to the "Nazi Germany like red cross markings" on Jew houses.
While the Gujarat officials have reportedly denied the Sabrangindia report, saying that the vermillion crosses were for garbage collection, the site has quoted local Muslims who reside in Ahmedabad as saying: "How come then only Muslim homes had these crosses?", adding, other media, meanwhile, have begun investigating on how this has happened.
Read more:
http://www.counterview.net/2017/11/nazi-type-vermillion-crosses-spotted-on.html
Shiva Kumara These peace loving people who make dams and ports assist anti state people in FATA and Balochistan too.
it should not pain you. We have warm relations with our Saudi brothers and we can take steps for its security.
And yet it has so much sway….whine all you want, call Pakistan a failed state all you want. It only shows your jealousy and small minded-ness 😀
Hindian Zionists snugly in bed with IsraelI Zionists
Hindian Zionists snugly in bed with IsraelI Zionists
"Nazi-type" vermillion crosses spotted on Ahmedabad’s Muslim homes in India
A well-known human rights site, http://www.sabrangindia.in, run by Teesta Setalvad, who has fought several cases for the 2002 anti-minority Gujarat riot victims, has claimed to have found that several of the Muslim houses in different parts of Ahmedabad, India, have been identified and crossed, alleging these are similar to the "Nazi Germany like red cross markings" on Jew houses.
While the Gujarat officials have reportedly denied the Sabrangindia report, saying that the vermillion crosses were for garbage collection, the site has quoted local Muslims who reside in Ahmedabad as saying: "How come then only Muslim homes had these crosses?", adding, other media, meanwhile, have begun investigating on how this has happened.
Read more:
http://www.counterview.net/2017/11/nazi-type-vermillion-crosses-spotted-on.html
Red crosses on Muslim homes in India: After the scare, Ahmedabad police call it crude, not mischief
A day after red cross marks had appeared on the walls of some residential societies in Ahmedabad, alarming Muslim residents, the city police said these were not a work of mischief but a “crude” job by an agency that had been tasked with identifying houses for a garbage collection project.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation said that the agency, which it had engaged for identifying the houses, was not supposed to have painted those marks and should only have put stickers on the houses identified.
The crosses had been painted on walls in Paldi, a mixed neighbourhood of Muslims, Jains and Hindus. Marked outside the homes of Muslims and Hindus, these were whited out Tuesday.
Alarmed Muslim residents of Delight Flats, Paldi, had written to the Election Commission as well as the Ahmedabad police commissioner Monday. “Such marking has left many in the Muslim community in shock and fear as it is done by some unknown element, and shows clear purpose of identifying Muslim areas,” they said.
Read more:
http://indianexpress.com/elections/gujarat-assembly-elections-2017/red-crosses-on-muslim-homes-after-the-scare-ahmedabad-police-call-it-crude-not-mischief-4937897/
"Nazi-type" vermillion crosses spotted on Ahmedabad’s Muslim homes in India
A well-known human rights site, http://www.sabrangindia.in, run by Teesta Setalvad, who has fought several cases for the 2002 anti-minority Gujarat riot victims, has claimed to have found that several of the Muslim houses in different parts of Ahmedabad, India, have been identified and crossed, alleging these are similar to the "Nazi Germany like red cross markings" on Jew houses.
While the Gujarat officials have reportedly denied the Sabrangindia report, saying that the vermillion crosses were for garbage collection, the site has quoted local Muslims who reside in Ahmedabad as saying: "How come then only Muslim homes had these crosses?", adding, other media, meanwhile, have begun investigating on how this has happened.
Read more:
http://www.counterview.net/2017/11/nazi-type-vermillion-crosses-spotted-on.html
With just a nod from the Wahhabi Saudis ally, Israeli arms and Jewish money will resume to flow into the main Saudi army backer, Pakistan to contain Iran just like in the good old days to contain the Soviets in Afghanistan, This development will be troublesome for India as Iran is now only India key to Central Asia.
Imran Hasan asia times is the indian editorial, my old friend Hamza Ameer works for them!
Shakeel Ahmad Kashmiri miltiancy is freedom fight where as balcochs are miltiants… dont use word insha allah.. god is same for every living being on earth.. use we will try to
Maqsood Ahmed Kayani US is number one promoter of israel and you wait with bowl for dollars…who is kneeling???
Saudi wants to bring its war with Iran esp shias to pakistan.. it will imbalance entire Sub continent..we have enough problems with kashmir and baluchistaan and NWF…why pakistan want to bring one more
Dear Hakim Kabuli Pakistan is off course dangerous but only for his enemies like India and Israel and others who are spreading terrorism in Pakistan specially in Baluchistan.
For your information kabuli…. Iran along with US and KSA ???????? is solely responsible for the current ME mayhem…..
It has armed hisbullah who have supported a tyrant basher Ul assad in Syria responsible for genocide of Muslims
Iran has created popular mobilization unit in Iraq which is responsible for the current Iraqi unrest….
Iran is supporting Yemenis by arming them with missiles that uses it against KSA
It’s arming KSA eastern part shiettes to create unrest in KSA….
It’s massacaring its own kurdish people in western Iran and sunnis in sistan Balochistan….
And you are accusing Pakistan…. Look into your collars first then talk…..
Shiva Kumara… Dear will this argument take us anywhere…?? We instead of pointing each other faults should concentrate on each prosperity….
Shiva tell me what mainly drives India against Pakistan?? The three wars we have fought?? If that’s the case Japan was annihilated by US.. Today they have best relations… Germany and Russia massacred each other today they are cooperating each other in so many forums…. Why we too countries have deep seated animosity…. I think we should move on from the bitter past and throng to a much better future for our next generation…. So that they should believe in live and let live policy….. We all need to have a big heart….
Like the surgicàl strike ! Haha!!
Pakistan own intrest in middle east because Pakistan is positioned on the door of Gulf, millions of Pakistani working in Gulf states and sending billions of $ to surging and contributing in Pakistan economy. Iran should be changed its policies and invovlement in Syria, Yemen, Labanon and Iraq and also distrubing Saudi Arab and Pakistan on sectrian issue. So Pakistan intrest to defend its real friends in Gulf and middle east in any crisis and war.
Excellent reporting, Mr. Shahid. I look forward to reading more of your work in Asia Times.
You think by repeating the word "apartheid" you’ll make it true? Israeli Muslims, Christians and Jews vote in all Israeli elections, same as Jews. They have the same rights at the same courts. Of course, Israel occupies Judea and Samaria for sound military reasons, but the PA controls territory where 90% of Palestinian Arabs live. Tell me another Arab country where civil rights are respected better than those of Israeli Arabs.
Saudi Arabia —-the birthplace of Wahhabism———-and look what has happened to Pakistan since they become so close to Saudi Arabia———another Wahhabist hellhole!!
What a joke, two world’s most incompetant militaries of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan working on behest of Israel and the United states. Pakistani military loses every war with India and only can operate as a terrorist organization using other people to do the fighting for them.
The four (US, Israel, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia) first cooperated to bring about 911 and consequent Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria wars. Using ISIS must have been the brain child of the MOSSAD in conjunction with the Pakistani ISI and the US CIA. Now Pakistan again is playing a double game with Iran and Saudi Arabia, i certainly hope Iran sees through these bastard sons of British India army personel.
Imran Hasan More like Pakistan is the weed stuck in India’s ass
Pakistani government officials and their political elies have a free pass to Britain and the US, they don’t give a damn about Pakistan.