Is Saudi help to Pakistan without any secret deal? Dr Shabir Choudhry

Is Saudi help to Pakistan without any secret deal?

Dr Shabir Choudhry    26 October 2018

1.   Before we think of this, understand that the Saudi economy is also having sever problems, and their GDP and economic growth is really disappointing.

2.   They are fighting a war in Yemen, which is costing them billions of dollars; and there are no signs of winning that.

3.   Also, they have ongoing disputes in Syria, Qatar and Iraq; and that is costing them money too.

4.   They have decades of rivalry and a tug of war with Iran, which manifest in a proxy wars in various parts of the world.

5.   Saudi Arabia does not give out money to any country because they are poor. If that was the case, then they would have given this kind of money to other Muslim countries which are in worse condition than Pakistan.

6.   With the above in mind, one can try to understand why Saudi Arabia has given this money to Pakistan. Surely, Saudi Arabia has not open their purse because of goodwill and generosity; or because they like Pakistanis.

7.   In return of this help, what can they expect from Pakistan; or more appropriately, what can Pakistan offer?

8.   Pakistan can provide:

1)   Army to fight in Yemen, under the pretext of protecting Makkah and Madina;

2)   Air force or pilots to fight in Yemen;

3)   Support groups that can take care of Shias inside Pakistan;

4)   Promote anti Iran policies to help Saudi Arabia;

5)   Suicide bombers;

6)   Drugs;

7)   Extremist ideas;

8)   Skills to silence rebels and critics.

9.    Anyone with common sense can decide that Saudi Arabia do not need any help in no 5),6),7) and 8), as they are pretty good in that.

10.                 They need help in the first four fields. In my opinion, Pakistan’s begging bowl was filled by Saudi funds after unwritten agreement on first four points. This will help Pakistan to strengthen its economy; but it will surely increase Pakistan’s problems.

11.                 Good luck Pakistan, and future generations should prepare themselves to cut the harvest Imran Khan is sowing today, just as Pakistani people and even neighbours are busy cutting the crop sowed by General Zia.