PAKISTAN’S RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have always enjoyed very friendly relations. Both collaborate with each other in multiple ways. However, the rationale for their friendship is sometimes not understood and there is a need for an objective study of the history of Pakistan-Saudi relations and their present status.A Saudi official once stated: “The relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is a special one that does not exist between any other two countries.” Prince Turki al-Faisal, former chief of Saudi intelligence, has stated that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have forged “Probably one of the closest relationships in the world between any two countries without any official treaty.” Certainly, the record shows that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have stood by each other in war and in peace. This special relationship has endured despite changes of governments on both sides.