For the information of the critics’ of the Pakistan- Saudi Arabia Strategic Defence Pact, writing copiously that the project is impractical, unachievable and bound to fail. It might apply brakes on their yapping.
- The Impact
- Material Benefits for Pakistan
- The author Brigadier (Retd.) Asif Haroon Raja, is a retired Brigadier General, war veteran, defence and security analyst, columnist, author of five books, ex-chairman TFP, Patron-in-chief CDS Think Tank, and takes part in TV talk shows.
- *The views and opinions expressed herein, and any references, are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of the Centre for Development and Stability (CDS).
Highlights of the expected immediate returns for Pakistan are as under:
Pakistan will deploy 50,000 troops in KSA, and it will be solely responsible for the defence of the holy cities of Mecca and Madina.
Five Missile Regiments will be deployed, and the most sophisticated Air Defence System will also be established.
Pakistan will establish an Air Communication System for which it has already struck a deal with China to procure 20 satellites costing 496 million dollars.
New air bases would be constructed.
Pakistan will play a role in protecting Saudi Arabia’s oil pipeline routes .
A joint Pak-Saudi Command & Control system will be established.
With the help of the Air Communication System, the whole region will be monitored round the clock.
13 Ababeel Missiles, Ballistic and Cruise Missiles would form part of the Missile Regiments to respond instantly at a time against multiple external threats.
PAF’s JF-17 Thunder and J10-C jets would be part of the defence systems in Saudi Arabia.
In the event of an attack on any of the strategic partner, there will no need to seek the assistance of the other. The Joint Command & Control System would instantly mobilise the forces of the two countries.
Pakistani officials would be reaching Saudi Arabia in a few days to start working, and the total project would be completed in one year timeframe Insha’Allah.
The Impact
The development will have a far reaching impact upon the security dynamics of the Middle East that have been ruined by Israel and American meddling.
It will help Pakistan in gaining a strong foothold in the Middle East for the first time at a time when the American influence is waning because of its unflinching support to criminal Israel, and Israel is being despised and cursed on account of its genocidal war in Gaza.
It will give a measure of comfort to the oppressed Palestinians who were abandoned by the Arab League and the Muslim Ummah.
It will curtail Indian ever increasing socioeconomic influence, political meddling and espionage in the Arab world.
Material Benefits for Pakistan
It is not a short term but a long-term project. One can imagine the economic benefits to the 50,000 troops, dozens of pilots and hundreds of technical hands and skilled manpower. Their pay and allowances paid by Saudis would be phenomenal when compared with their pay scale in Pakistan.
They will feel honoured and will be thankful to Allah for being chosen to defend the Holy Mosques Harmain and Sharifein. Those who haven’t performed Hajj and Umrah would fulfill their hearts wish.
I remember the two Armour-Infantry Brigades and armour regiments sent to Saudi Arabia in 1982, and officers sent for training Saudi armed forces. The officers drew Rs 80,000 monthly salary as against Rs 6000 they drew at home. When they returned home, their lifestyle changed.
Unlike the former partnerships, this time it is a strategic partnership, which is all embracing and encompassing. It will include military, cultural, religious , economic, social, intelligence and diplomatic cooperation.
In return for providing military support to Saudi Arabia, the latter will provide financial support to Pakistan for all its ongoing and future economic projects to make Pakistan economically self reliant.
Saudi Arabia has a strong influence on Afghan Taliban. It will play a role in convincing the interim regime in Kabul to stop siding cross border terrorism into Pakistan.
It also has a strong equation with India and can play a role in toning down Indian belligerence against Pakistan.
Pakistan can help in removing reservations between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which will be easier because of the rapprochement between the two antagonists arranged by China.
It will open the doors for foreign direct investments in the SIFC projects, and in Special Economic Zones of CPEC by the oil rich Arab States.
Establishment of petrol chemical oil refinery at Gwadar has now become a probability.
China has welcomed the partnership and has expressed happiness. Russia will also welcome the development, and so will be the case of the Global South including the Arab League.
The US has not made any objections, which implies that the USA under Trump, which is getting fed up of Netanyahu gangsterism and is out of its control, doesn’t mind if Israel is checkmated.
The scope of the partnership is likely to expand, and other GCC States would gladly shift from the untrustworthy American security umbrella to the secured and reliable Pak-Saudi security umbrella.
Its strength and success would attract other regional Muslim States to form a joint platform similar to NATO.
The defence pact might act as a harbinger to unify the divided Muslim world. It will require sustained hard work based on sincerity and honesty of purpose.
اللّٰہ پاک دونوں برادر ممالک جو اب یک جان دو قالب کی عملی تصویر بننے جا رھے ہیں کو اپنے حفظ وامان میں رکھے آمین یا رب العالمین
