A warmly-welcomed visit of the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, has been enthusiastically described by the Pakistani leadership as “starting of a new era” and “further deepening” of bilateral relationship. That may be very much so for the government led by Nawaz Sharif for reasons too well-known. But from the Saudi Arabia’s point of view, as gleaned from the Saudi foreign minister’s remarks at a joint press conference with Sartaj Aziz, his visit has a broader context. In that media encounter the Saudi foreign minister was sharply focused on the post-2014 Afghanistan which to him is going to be a “turning point”, fearful of the possibility of terrorists filling up the vacuum of power created by the withdrawal of US-led coalition combat troops. Special efforts, he said, should be made to thwart terrorists from regrouping and also to pre-empt “foreign powers’” designs of taking advantage of the situation. He didn’t name these powers, but given the reality on ground we in Pakistan tend to see India as fitting this bill. This indeed an encouraging development, for even when the Saudi Arabian post-2014 perspective is nearly identical to that of the Americans on this issue the kingdom closely shares the Pakistani concerns. Such a similarity of perspectives imbibed in by Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was reflected from the visiting foreign minister’s remark – which remains enigmatic for lack of elaboration – that “designs of those plotting to spoil Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations should be thwarted.” He didn’t name any country not even Iran to obvious disappointment of quite a few. However Sartaj Aziz, in reply to a question at the press conference, expressed his belief that ‘Tehran’s engagement with the West would be beneficial for the whole region’. Whether such opacity also prevailed at the meetings the two countries had in Islamabad one would like to differ. There is a widely-held perception in Pakistan, some of it supported by the documentary evidence, that the terrorism networks at work here do receive ‘donations’ from some regional states who are fighting a sorts of proxy war on our soil. Hopefully the two sides would put in place a viable mechanism that should monitor the flow of funds from one to the other.

As to what was that “special message” of King Abdullah delivered to President Mamnoon Hussain by the Saudi foreign minister at their brief meeting there is no need to be very inquisitive. Trusting the two sides are not very secretive, one would think it is not about the retired army chief General Pervez Musharraf. In the words of Prince Saud al-Faisal he was not here “for any sort of deal with regards to the former president General Pervez Musharraf…How can we interfere in internal matters of a friendly country.” That the Musharraf issue didn’t come up even during discussions, one would believe the Saudi dignitary. This indeed is a significant departure from the previous when the kingdom facilitated the exile of Nawaz Sharif and later played a role to help him join the electoral exercise. Isn’t it paradoxical that the practitioners of monarchical form of government have such a warm regard for a democratic Pakistan and disdain for dictatorship - as shown to President Bashar al-Assad of Syria? President Assad should not be given a free hand to kill his citizens, the Saudi minister opined, expressing support for the Friends of Syria whose efforts for peace are being subverted by some foreign powers which the minister did not name. But for the people of Palestine the Saudi leader was categorical: Israel continuously violated the agreements and persisted in illegal constructions and brutalities against the Palestinians. Of course, the host government in Pakistan fully shares the Saudi concerns about regional and Middle East situation. But no less of interest to it is the Saudi help and assistance in more mundane fronts like energy shortages and need for extensive foreign investment. In his meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif made the perfect pitch for Saudi investment in energy, infrastructure, agriculture and livestock by offering generous incentives and privileges to Saudi businessmen. The prime minister also underscored the need that the two countries stitch up “strategic partnership”, more as a vehicle for increased economic cooperation than for other considerations. All of it as reflected from the all-embracing agenda of the two sides has the right potential to strengthen the multifaceted Pak-Saudi bilateralism. But there is no explanation yet as to how is it that of the four chief ministers only Shahbaz Sharif of Punjab was invited to join parleys with Prince Saud al-Faisal.