At a time when the Saudis are, with an eye on Iran, wooing India like never before, the traditionally warm relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are going through a rough patch.
On June 6, Saudi Arabia agreed to double its crude oil exports to India, meaning Indian crude imports from the kingdom would amount to more than 800,000 barrels per day. This is the first big step towards a strategic energy partnership between New Delhi and Riyadh, something that the two sides have been working on since the beginning of last year.
This strategic energy partnership could culminate in a 30-year oil supply contract that Saudi Arabia is expected to sign with India. It would also mark a further step along the path of improved ties since India-Saudi Arabia relations were transformed following the 2006 state visit to India by King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.
Post-Osama bin Laden, Pakistan’s credibility with the United States has touched rock bottom. But the country’s ties with Saudi Arabia – a sworn enemy of bin Laden – have arguably been just as damaged. The fact that bin Laden was found deep inside Pakistani territory won’t have amused the Saudi royal family, which is of course fully aware that one of the late al-Qaeda leader’s goals was the overthrow of the monarchy.
Days after bin Laden’s killing by US Special Forces in Abbottabad, the government of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari dispatched Interior Minister Rehman Malik to Riyadh. Malik reportedly delivered a letter on behalf of Zardari to King Abdullah. He also gave an exhaustive briefing to top Saudi diplomatic, military and intelligence officials, including Saudi intelligence chief Prince Muqrin and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al Faisal on the bin Laden episode, telling them that Pakistani military and intelligence officials were completely unaware of bin Laden’s presence in the country. Malik told them that the government had ordered an inquiry into the Abbottabad episode and would share the results with Riyadh.
However, Saudi-Pakistan relations continue to be tense. It’s not just because the Saudis no longer trust the Pakistanis over their promises in the war against terror, but also because Saudi interests are increasingly under attack in Pakistan since bin Laden’s death: following a grenade attack at the Saudi Consulate in Karachi, a Saudi diplomat was shot dead in Karachi.
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Rakesh
According to a professor who has lived in GCC area for 30 years or so. There is already the beginnings of a nascent India GCC Alliance. His speech is here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6MvjwAftEE
India-Saudi relations is just a part of this new emerging alliance
Frank
Indian like to kiss up those who they perceive as strong, wealthy and powerful people.
Most of the Indians have servant mentalities.
1) Envy and Jealous to those who they think are equal to them.
2) Kissing ups to masters.
3) Arrogant and mean to those who Indians perceived to be weaker and poorer.
4) However, if confronted, Indians are selfdom stand the fight. They normally would run away with tails between their legs.
India had always been occupied by other people.
That is why Indians had been trained over the last few thousand years as servants to colonial masters.
The people from middle east were Indians masters. Saudis included.
Crank
of the four options where do you fit in Frank?
guest
Why do you automatically assume “defending China” = “bashing India”?
Frank
Other than westerners, you will see the only colored people who are bashing China are Indians.
From comment sections, from the writers of Times magazine, and many other western medias, from India’s own medias.
Indians are like westerner’s pets.
To defend China, you have to push back on Indians. (and their white masters)
terex
@Frank
You are a chinese who have no knowledge of world geo politics!!
Stop stereotyping india!!India have independent policy with all country!!
India is not appeasing western world.its west who needs india against china!!
we are coming close to you!!you are not far from us!1
guest
Frank, you are a idiot. Go take a look at the post about the dispute in the SCS and see how many Vietcongs there are here.
Frank
TeRex:
You must be a low caste East Indian. China’s new millitary airports and cruise missile basees are 20 min away from Calcatta and New Delhi.
some1
@Frank- dude, Indian missiles are also not that far from u!! even if you are hiding in Harbin !!
inam
@frank:
Hold on..y u so jealous…Think before you deliver..
Mohammad Irshad
@Frank- Just like you Chinese are also a client state and pet of a German (Western) ideology i.e. Communism! And you were ruled by Mongolians, Siberians and Manchus!