Khadim-al-Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz promises to abide by Quran and Sunnah as constitution of Saudi Arabia

Seldom has a person taken over the reigns of power with such extensive grooming for the job and with immense challenges faced as Khadim Al-Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz.
Having served as the Crown Prince of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom since June 13, 1982 to August 1, 2005 while Khadim Al Haramain late King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz ruled, Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz was declared King and the Saudi monarch following the sad demise of King Fahd on August 1, 2005 after protracted illness.
The Saudi nation in true Muslim tradition bid farewell to the late monarch in a befitting manner and took its oath of allegiance to the new monarch, Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in ceremonies at the Qasr Al Hakam in Rivadh on August 3, 2005 reflecting the total and complete faith in him as their leader.
And in true Islamic tradition, the new monarch declared his adherence to the title of 'Khadim Al Haramain' to reflect his own adherence to the concept that the ruler of the Kingdom is truly the servant of the two Holy Mosques, an honour bestowed on the Kingdom by Allah, the All Embracing.
In this very first act of government as the ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz endeared himself even more to his people, to the Muslim Ummah and also evoked the admiration of leaders and statesman around the world for donning the same title as had been adopted in all humility to Allah, the Merciful, by his illustrious predecessor.
CHALLENGES FACED BY KHADIM AL-HARAMAIN KING ABDULLAH:
The challenges faced by Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz are many and divergent. The first is to maintain the Islamic ethos of the Kingdom while removing from minds abroad the distorted image of Islam and Muslims, carry on with greater vigour the campaign against international terrorism, seeking for the Palestinian Arabs an honourable peace and state of their own with Jerusalem as the capital, a continued programme for economic uplift and welfare of the Saudi nation, an active role in the United Nations for peace and stability in the region and the world, an active role in the international monetary organisations including the IMF and the World Bank and its ancillaries for a better world economic order where the less developed countries obtain their required share of funds for development, the strengthening of the Organisation of Islamic Conference to meet the modern day challenges, the accelerated movement for integration among the GCC countries at all levels and above all the further strengthening of Saudi Arabian defences working on the Islamic Dictum that in strength and preparedness lies the guarantee of national security and territorial integrity.
The stream of world leaders, who called to offer their condolences to Khadim Al Haramain Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz on the sad demise of his illustrious brother and predecessor Khadim Al Haramain King Fhad Ibn Abdul Aziz, also extended him their good wishes and support as the new Saudi monarch. Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz had actually been officiating on behalf of late King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz in conducting the matters of state and government business in the best Saudi and Islamic tradition.
EARLY LIFE AND TRAINING:
Born in Riyadh city in 1924, the year when the founder of the Saudi Kingdom King Abdul Aziz convened a meeting of Muslim world leaders and scholars to solicit their opinion on the first reconstruction of the Haramain Sharifain during Saudi rule, Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz received special attention from his illustrious father King Abdul Aziz and had the benefit of being taught by a number of leading of scholars and intellectuals of the Islamic faith. This helped broaden his vision.
He also acquired many virtues of his illustrious father including a sharp insight into Arabian history, the traditions and customs of the tribes of Arabia, sincerity of purpose with a great appetite for knowledge and learning, love for his countrymen and for the Ummah.
Alongwith these virtues and understanding he cultivated his own wisdom and self-discipline. He also showed a flair for horse riding and the promotion of cultural events that manifest the Arab and Islamic traditions and qualities of the Saudi people, in unison with the Muslim Ummah.
Having served in different capacities he assumed the command of the Saudi National Guards in 1962 and ensured the building of this auxiliary national defence force in so excellent a manner that it became the most reliable line of defence for the Saudi Arabian Kingdom after the regular armed forces.
The National Guards as an auxiliary force showed their mettle and prowess in the defence of the Kingdom during the 1990-91 Kuwait crisis when Saddam's Iraq over-ran Kuwait till its liberation in February, 1991. The National Guards also perform exemplary services during the Hajj season and in all cases of emergencies including the latest multidimensional Saudi Arabian fight against international error.
As the Commander of the National Guards, Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz ensured the provision of the highest standards of training for the force, as also proper education, medical and housing facilities. He has also encouraged several cultural events including the annual Al-Janadiriyah National Festival for Culture and Heritage.
ABDULLAH'S FIRM PLEDGE TO THE NATION:
Khadim Al-Haramin King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in his very first broadcast to the nation after taking the oath of allegiance declared that he as the Khadim Al Haramain Al-Sharifain shall do his best to serve the Saudi nation and the Muslim Ummah and Islam in keeping with the tradition of the founder of the Kingdom and the monarchs who followed including his illustrious predecessor Khadim Al Haramain Late King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz.
The ceremony of the oath of allegiance on August 3, 2005 was conducted in a simple manner with the princes, officials and other citizens pledging allegiance to the new monarch. It showed the deep feelings of love and affection that the Saudi nation has for its monarch.
The succession of Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz to the throne in keeping with the highest Saudi and Islamic tradition also set at rest the negative propaganda and speculation indulged in by those not friendly to the Saudi Kingdom and the Muslim Ummah. It also shocked them into realising that process of succession in the Saudi Kingdom is a very smooth one as has been demonstrated now and also in the past.
Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz also named H.R.H. Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz as the Crown Prince and First Deputy Prime Minister. When the disappointed opponents of the Saudi system could not find anything to deplore, they began circulating stories as to why the Second Deputy Prime Minister has not been nominated. It was satisfactorily clarified officially that it is not a compulsory requirement.
Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz undertook visits to countries in Asia, Europe, Africa and the America in the closing years of the 90's and in the early part of the current decade to meet world leaders and brief them on the Saudi Arabian stand on world issues - strategic, political, economic and social. He met the US president, the British prime minister, the president of France, the Chancellor of Germany and the Russian president Vladimir Putin, thus becoming the first Saudi Crown Prince to visit the Kremlin.
He also met various Asian leaders including the Chinese president and the Japanese premier. He also held several meetings with the other heads of states and governments of the GCC as also the Arab League. He stressed in each meeting the need for peace, stability and progress in these countries, the regions and the world.
SUPPORT TO PAKISTAN:
Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah visited Pakistan in 1984 as Crown Prince and extended full support to the Pakistan policy on Afghanistan and the vacation of Soviet forces from that country. Again, he supported the Pakistan stand on Kashmir.
When Pakistan carried out its nuclear test in 1998, Saudi Arabia as a friend understood the need for it and Pakistan's reasons for undertaking the test in reply to the Indian tests. In his meeting with General Pervez Musharraf in early 2001, Abdullah as Crown Prince assured continued Saudi Arabian support for Pakistan and for its territorial integrity and progress.
Just as it gave hundred thousand barrels a day to Pakistan during the Gulf War, Saudi Arabia also gave Pakistan special credit during the difficult 1999-2000 period. Crown Prince Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz supported Pakistan's stand at the Islamic Summit in Malaysia in 2003 calling for the improvement of the working of the OIC and a more proactive stand by the OIC on all issues concerning the Muslim world and its relationship with the West.
In October, 2003, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz visited Islamabad on way back from the Islamic Summit and discussed important issues of a bilateral, regional and international nature and reiterated the commitment of both the nations to work together in seeking Islamic solidarity and projecting a positive image of Muslims and Islam in non-Muslim countries.
The keen interest as shown by Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz in ties with Pakistan while he held office as Crown Prince, will continue at higher level and an accelerated pace now that he is the Khadim Al Haramain and King of Saudi Arabian Kingdom.
His proposals on Middle East peace seem to be reaching a favourable conclusion including the evacuation of Gaza by the Zionists. One should hope that Middle East peace would come during his reign. His concern for return of peace to Afghanistan and Iraq is also obvious.
Therefore, in the days ahead one should expect the blossoming of a closer relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia with Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz at the helm of affairs in Saudi Arabia and President Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan.
CROWN PRINCE SULTAN IBN ABDUL AZIZ:
The silver lining provided to this immense definitive development in the days ahead is the assumption of office as Crown Prince by Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz, a great friend and admirer of Pakistan. After he became the Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia in 1962, having served earlier as the Governor of Riyadh, the Saudi capital, he concentrated on the development of the Saudi Arabian armed forces in right earnest.
In my meetings with him I found him a devoted Muslim and completely dedicated to improved Pakistan-Saudi ties.
He is the person who initialled the Pakistan Saudi Defence Co-operation Agreement in the 60's and also supervised the placement of the Pakistan military contingent to counter Israel belligerence in the early 80's in the Kingdom.
He has toured Pakistan extensively and also gave a munificent donation of ten million dollar for Balochistan in 1986 to then Balochistan Governor Lieutenant General Rahimuddin.
His son, Prince, Fahd Ibn Sultan continues to patronise many welfare institutions in Balochistan. Similarly, the Saudi Arabian welfare trust has given substantial aid to the Eye Hospital in Rawalpindi while in all calamities caused by drought, earthquake or floods; Saudi aid for Pakistan has been substantial.
The very fact that almost a million Pakistanis are employed gainfully in the government sector and private sector jobs in the Saudi Kingdom speaks highly of the manner in which Saudi Arabia has welcomed Pakistani expatriates, who also send annually over half a billion dollars as home remittances.
One should see further increase in this under Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz because Saudi oil income has soared beyond the previous highest levels of 1979-80 and is reaching the figures of some one hundred and sixty billion dollars, at current computation for the financial year 2005.
The oil yield has also increased in volume and given this improvement in economic prospects of the Kingdom, the mutually advantageous economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will also get a boost under the leadership of Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz.
AT THE 60th UN SUMMIT MEETING:
Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz represented the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the 60th UN Anniversary and Summit meeting of World leaders in the middle of September, 2005.
In his address to the UN Summit meeting, attended by heads of States and Governments from over 150 countries, Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz highlighted very boldly and clearly the adherence of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom to its declared policies pursued since the great King Abdul Aziz Al-Saud established the Kingdom and which policies have been upheld by his illustrious sons, now by Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz. It was Khadim Al-Haramain King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz who deputed Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz to represent him at the UN World Summit.
In his eloquent address at the UN Summit session Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz highlighted the policies of the Kingdom including complete support to the fight against international terrorism and at the same time support to the early establishment of the Palestinian Arab state and the withdrawal.
Of Zionist hold from Arab Palestinian territory including the city of Al-Quds. The Saudi Crown Prince also pleaded for the less developed countries of the world and pointed out the Saudi aid given to the less developed countries at a scale which is percentage-wise the highest among the aid giving countries.
Crown Prince Sultan Ibn Abdul Aziz also called for early establishment of the International Centre for monitoring terrorism at the international level and sharing of information to effectively fight international terrorism through co-ordinated action as originally decided in the international conference held in Riyadh recently at the initiative of Khadim Al Haramain King Abdullah then in his capacity as Crown Prince.
Thus the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as one of the signatories to the original statute forming the United Nations in the year 1945 played its due prominent role at the 60th annual meeting and World Summit of the UN in 2005, further establishing the credentials of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom as a state pledged to international co-operation, peace, progress and prosperity while upholding dignity of the individuals and the nations in keeping with Islamic tenets.
SAUDI MISSIONS IN PAKISTAN:
The Royal Saudi Arabian Embassy at Islamabad and the Saudi Arabian Consulate General at Karachi are performing a great job in respect of providing the required consular services, information and guidance to Pakistanis in respect of Hajj and Umrah. Work and family visas as also business and study visas.
The working at the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Islamabad has been upgraded under the directives of His Excellency Ali Bin Awadh Aseeri, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador who has represented his country very ably in Islamabad since 1999.
He is a popular diplomat in the Islamabad elite and has also visited other cities in Pakistan to establish direct support. His projection of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom and its policies has been very sincere and well-taken by the people who matter in Islamabad.
In the same manner the working of the Saudi Arabian Kingdom's Consulate General at Karachi has been totally streamlined by the Consul General H.E. Dr Hasan A. Attar, the Consul General who took up his honours duties in Karachi in 2001 and has since then effected various improvements where by the issuance of visas for Umra, Hajj, family and Work as also business are hassel-free.
The work of attestation of documents has also been streamlined. The Saudi Consul General has also cultivated good friends among the elite and common people in Karachi.
As also officers in the Consulate General who work with equal measure of devotion as the Consul General. I have watched the work at the Consulate General and admired the manner in which it has been improved to the advantage of the Pakistani customers seeking various services provided by the Consulate General at Karachi.