Saudi Arabia, which has always had close ties with Pakistan’s military and powerhouses, has said the country won’t interfere in Pakistan’s domestic affairs.

Islamabad, July 5/Nationalturk – After backing the military coup in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, which has always had close ties with Pakistan’s military and powerhouses, said the country has nothing to do with domestic affairs of Pakistan.

“We have no agenda with regard to Pakistan’s domestic affairs. We want to make it clear that Saudi Arabia has nothing to do with domestic affairs in Pakistan,” Saudi envoy to Pakistan Dr Abdul Aziz Ibrahim bin Saleh Al-Ghadeer told reporters during a function at Saudi mission, in Pakistan capital yesterday.

Assuring Pakistan of Saudi Arabia’s full support, he said, “We stand with our brethren in Pakistan in every thick and thin. Ever since Pakistan came into being in 1947, the ties between the two countries been gaining strength. We are one nation with two countries”.

Some political leaders and activists in Pakistan are not happy with Saudi Arabia’s stand over backing the military coup in Egypt. The Egyptian military ousted elected president Morsi in a coup on Wednesday.

They fear that in case Pakistan military makes such an effort to dislodge elected government of Nawaz Sharif, Saudi Arabia can back the army and thus give legitimacy to the ‘military coup’.

‘Saudi govt enjoyed strong ties with Pakistani people’

The envoy said Saudi government had always enjoyed best ties with people of Pakistan irrespective of any government. “Many governments came into power in Pakistan but Saudi-Pakistan relationship kept on flourishing on the people-to-people level”.

When asked whether Saudi government is making behind-the-scene efforts to get Pakistan’s former military ruler General (Retd) Parvez Musharraf released from prison, he said “It is the internal affairs of Pakistan and I don’t want to comment on it”.

There have been speculations that Saudi Arabia’s King is making behind-the-scene efforts to press Nawaz Sharif to release Musharraf and send him into exile, preferably in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi government had always had good relations with Pakistan’s military and whoseoever was in power in the country. Whenever, Pakistan government is in trouble, the behind-the-scene efforts are held in Saudi Arabia to resolve the issue.

‘No schedule finalized for Pakistan PM’s visit to kingdom’

Asked when will Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visit Saudi Arabia, Al-Ghadeer said no schedule has been finalised about his visit to Saudi Arabia as yet.

He, however, said economic cooperation would come under discussion when Nawaz visits Saudi Arabia. “The Pakistan PM can discuss any subject with King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who views Pakistan’s leader as his brother,” he said and rejected media reports that Saudi government was to offer any economic package to Pakistan.

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Faiz Ahmad / NationalTurk Pakistan News