The Pakistani military has arrived in Saudi Arabia amid a disagreement between the two countries that has threatened Riyadh’s financial lifeline for Islamabad.
General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s general visit on Monday was “primarily military-oriented,” Pakistani army spokesman said.
The army declined to comment to Al Jazeera on the agenda for the visit.
But Pakistani military and officials told Reuters news agency that Bajwa would use his good offices to try to calm the situation, which could severely hurt Pakistan’s central bank foreign reserves. if not reversed.
A traditional ally gave Saudi Arabia Pakistan a $ 3 billion loan and $ 3.2 billion oil credit facility to help end its balance of payments in late 2018.
Pakistan has long pressed the Saudi-led Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to convene a high-level meeting to highlight India’s alleged human rights violations in the disputed Kashmir region.
But the OIC has so far only held meetings at a low level.
“If you can not call it, then I will be forced to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to convene a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and the suppressed to support Kashmiris, “Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told local media in recent weeks.
Last year, Islamabad withdrew at the last minute from a forum of Muslims, following the incitement of Riyadh, who saw the meeting as an attempt to challenge his OIC leadership.
Qureshi’s remarks have rekindled Riyadh’s anger, said one Pakistani military official and a government adviser.
Saudi Arabia has forced Pakistan to pay $ 1 billion too early and is demanding another $ 1 billion of the loan.
Riyadh has also not responded to Pakistani requests to extend the oil facility, military and finance officials told Reuters.
The head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), General Faiz Hameed, accompanying Bajwa, said a Pakistani military source.
Pakistanis account for more than a quarter of the 10 million foreigners working in Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Khan is also trying to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran, following attacks on Gulf oil interests that Washington blamed on Tehran, although he said recently that progress was slow.
SOURCE:
Al Jazeera and news agencies
.
