RAWALPINDI, Pakistan: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa will undertake a visit to Saudi Arabia on August 16 (Sunday), the Director General Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Babar Iftikhar said on Thursday.
His visit apparently aims at warding off the imminent threat that the bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia may turn sour over Riyadh’s reluctance to be proactive from the OIC Platform for Kashmir issue.
Recently the Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi also expressed displeasure over Saudi Arabia’s approach towards the Kashmir dispute, and hinted of taking harsh diplomatic decision of withdrawing from the Saudi-headed Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Reportedly, Pakistan has also returned US$ 1 billion loan to Saudi Arabia even before time.
In 2018, Pakistan availed US$ 3 billion loan and US$ 3.2 billion worth oil on deferred payments from Saudi Arabia.
Two Senior Pakistan Military Officials told the foreign news agency Reuters that Saudi Arabia is not happy over Pakistan’s criticism with regard to Riyadh’s Kashmir approach; therefore, the COAS has decided to visit the Kingdom to pacify the Saudis and remove misunderstandings.
