According to newspaper reports, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was given cold reception by the royal family in Saudi Arabia in utter disregard to the traditional Arab hospitality and norms of international diplomacy. No matter how ordinary Saudis see and behave with South Asian workers and hurl slurs of ‘rafique’ and ‘maskeen’ on them, the uncalled for behavior with the prime minister of Pakistan cannot be justified from any angle and it belies norms of decency and civility. Pakistanis have special regard for the holy land and its people, but the way the ruling family is behaving or misbehaving with Pakistani officials will pay them back in the same manner in the times to come. The proposed alliance of the Islamic countries, pushed ahead by Saudi Arabia, is apparently against terrorism, but in fact it is an anti-Iran alliance. The royal family of Hejaz and Najad has already stashed petro-money in US and European banks and the latest move to buy billions of dollars arms is to persuade US President Trump to perpetuate their tyrant rule in that country. One fails to understand what Mr Sharif was doing in that country in the first place where he was an unwanted guest.
It is unfortunate that the Saudi and UAE monarchs love to stash their money in US and Swiss banks, but come to Pakistan to prey on the threatened species every year. One fails to understand why the rulers of this country have no respect in themselves and for this nation and why they present Pakistan as a beggar state at every international forum. Saudis have signed deals worth $350 billion with the United States, but never bother to invest anything in Pakistan. On another note, Pakistanis are the leading visitors of the holy land and spend nearly $1 billion annually on Haj and Umra tours.
The time has come the rulers of the country should assert their authority as part of a respectable nation and forget to respect the royal family which does not know the norms of hospitality. Pakistan is rising economic power and Saudi Royal family is sitting on a sinking ship. We should not be part of any alliance against our immediate neighbor Iran. It should also be noted that Iran was the first country of the world which had recognized Pakistan in the United Nations. The general criteria is that respect the one who respects you. Pakistan doesn’t need any help from Saudi Arabia and let the royal family face the consequences of its wrongdoings.
