ISLAMABAD: Another Wikileaks cable has thrown more light on the Pak-Saudi relations and reveals that ties between these two Muslim countries have strained since Asif Ali Zardari seized power, a man who the cable says, “They don’t trust and instead consider him corrupt together with other leading Pakistani politicians.”
The cable has also affirmed the failed efforts of the Saudi embassy in Islamabad for uniting political factions for bringing stability in Pakistan.
Zardari’s Saudi visit in November 2008 that was intended to secure concessions on oil subsidies and the Kingdom’s support on the Friends of Pakistan initiative was a complete failure, a US cable from the US embassy in Riyadh said.
“This Arab Kingdom will be holding back the economic and political support until the government doesn’t take concrete steps for stabilising Pakistan,” it says, giving the US assessment. This cable was a brief summary, for visiting US Senator Kit Bond, sent by the US deputy ambassador in Saudi Arabia David Rundell on March 31, 2009. The subject of the cable is: “Scene-setter for Senator Bond’s April 6-6 visits to Saudi Arabia”.
Apart from discussions on Pakistan, the cable has unravelled the degree of fear Saudis have of Iran, also detailing the deep division within the Arab world. Lauding Saudis counter-terrorism efforts, the cable has termed the Kingdom as “part of solution, not part of problem” that has tightened control over suspected charities and successfully running a rehabilitation programme for extremists.
About the Pak-Saudi ties, David Rundell wrote that Saudis are extremely concerned about Pakistan’s political fragility and “have worked hard through their embassy in Islamabad, to bring the Pakistani factions together.” Saudis relations with Pakistan have been strained “because the Saudis don’t trust Zardari and see him and other leading Pakistani politicians as corrupt.”
Regarding Zardari’s November 2008’s visit that was “an opportunity for Zardari to persuade the sceptical Saudis that he can be a trustworthy partner”, the cable said this high-profile trip failed in securing the desired objectives like the oil subsidies and the Kingdom’s support for the Friends of Pakistan initiative. “The Saudis say they have been holding back economic and political support pending evidence that the political situation in Pakistan is stabilising.”
Highlighting the Saudis’ obsession with Iran, the US deputy ambassador, addressing the visiting senator, says: “As you will hear, Saudi foreign policy calculations are driven by a deep fear and suspicion of expanding Iranian influence.” The Saudis didn’t want the US to invade Iraq as it could benefit Iran and their advice in this respect was ignored, the cable said. These concerns have been affirmed through a quote of Saudi foreign minister Saud Al-Faisal: “Military intervention in Iraq and Afghanistan has tilted the (regional) balance of power towards Iran.”
The diplomatic cable has lauded Saudi Arabia’s role in counter-terrorism efforts and termed the Arab Kingdom “most important counterterrorist intelligence partner,” as they have tightened control over charities, also signing Information Sharing Agreement for exchanging intelligence on Airline Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record. “We can say clearly that Saudi Arabia is now part of the solution, not the problem.” Although the US has been pressing on Pakistani authorities for the same, it has not succeeded so far.
