Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday, arrived in Saudi Arabia to discuss bi-lateral relations between the two countries, Kashmir and Afghanistan issues.
General Bajwa, accompanied by Director General (DG) Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) General Faiz Hameed landed in Riyadh at around 10:am on Monday.
General Bajwa’s visit is purportedly aimed at addressing Saudi concerns regarding Pakistan’s criticism on OIC and indirectly on Saudi Arabia as well.
The visit is expected to address political, economic and diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The development comes after Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had earlier used ‘strong words’ for Saudi Arabia led Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) over its failure to successfully address Kashmir issue.
“If you cannot convene it, then I’ll be compelled to ask Prime Minister Imran Khan to call a meeting of the Islamic countries that are ready to stand with us on the issue of Kashmir and support the oppressed Kashmiris,” said FM Qureshi on August 5.
FM Qureshi’s remarks reportedly sparked serious ‘concerns’ in Saudi Arabia, as the Kingdom has intensely close military, economic, political and socio-cultural ties.
According to diplomatic sources, General Bajwa’s pertains to this recent ‘misunderstanding’ between the two allies.
However, Director General (DG) Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj Gen Babar Iftikhar had then refuted such claims and reiterated that the visit was pre-planned and will focus on security and military issues and cooperation between the two nations.
