'This is just the beginning'

Saudi Min-ister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel al-Jubeir Monday said that the MoUs signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia amounting to $ 20 billion are "just the beginning" and "this is investment and not charity." Speaking at a joint news conference along with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia has a strategic interest in Pakistan and relations between the two countries are growing at every level.
Referring to Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, he stated that three MoUs involving investment in excess of $20 billion will further grow, adding that an oil refinery will be set up at a cost of about $10 billion in Gwadar.
"This is just the beginning," he said, adding, "This is not charity but an investment." He asserted if Saudi Arabia did not believe in Pakistan, it would not have been looking at the investments. He said that the Saudi investment would benefit both the countries and their people.
He said the two sides are also looking for ways to enhance contacts between the business communities of the two countries, adding that they are also looking at the ways to institutionalise the relationship between the two countries across the board in all government departments.
He said Supreme Coordination Council has been established to boost political, diplomatic and trade ties, adding that the council will involve almost every facet of the two governments, including security, political consultation, trade and investment, and culture.
Jubeir said that Saudi Arabia is extending cooperation to Pakistan in various projects and it wants to see Pakistan as an economically stable and viable country, adding that the kingdom wants to participate in Pakistan's economic growth, as "we believe that Prime Minister Imran Khan will take Pakistan to the higher level and there is a great potential in Pakistan for investment."
He emphasised that both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have deep and historical relations and there is a strong people-to-people cooperation between the two countries. He also expressed the hope that both countries would overcome the challenges they have been facing. He said, "We have more than 1.5 million Pakistanis living in Saudi Arabia," adding that they are law-biding and have contributed to Saudi development and "they are most welcome in our country."
On Afghanistan, he said that peace in Afghanistan would be of benefit to the entire region as well as Saudi Arabia, adding that the kingdom has been working with Pakistan, Afghanistan, the US and the United Arab Emirates to facilitate an agreement between the Taliban and Afghan government for restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
To a question about Pakistan-India tension, he said that Saudi Arabia desires both the countries to resolve their conflicts and have peaceful relations. "Our objective is to try to deescalate tensions between the neighbouring countries," he said and also hoped that both the countries would be able to resolve the dispute between them peacefully.
On the Saudi investment, Qureshi has said that Saudi Arabia is investing $20 billion in various sectors of Pakistan in the first phase, adding that seven MoUs have already been signed and more will also be signed soon.
He also appreciated Saudi acceptance of Pakistan's longstanding demand of reduction in visa fee for Pakistani nationals, adding that it will facilitate the people who will proceed to Saudi Arabia for various purposes. He said it has been decided to set up Supreme Coordination Council to ensure structured institutionalised mechanism with regard to the implementation of MoUs, adding that the council will make action plan and oversee progress on the implementation of the MoUs.
Qureshi said Prime Minister Imran Khan has requested the Saudi Crown Prince to look into the issue of providing facilities to Pakistani pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and the Pakistani citizens detained in Saudi jails and hopefully there will be an encouraging response from the Saudi side. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office through a statement described the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman "a highly successful."
"The visit laid the foundation for a new chapter in Pakistan-Saudi relationship, marked by high level institutional framework to guide future direction of political, diplomatic, economic, investment, trade, people-to-people, defence, security and cultural aspects," the Foreign Office said at the conclusion of the visit.
It stated that the establishment of Supreme Coordination Council, its subsidiary mechanism and the Council's inaugural session in Islamabad were some of the key steps in shaping the new trajectory in the bilateral relationship. "Investment and trade relations received high priority during the visit as demonstrated by the Saudi announcement of investments US $ 20 billion," it added.
It stated that Prime Minister also expressed gratitude to the Crown Prince for his immediate consent to release 2107 prisoners from Saudi jails. It further stated that the Saudi side praised Prime Minister Khan's dialogue offer to India including the initiative on opening of Kartarpur Corridor. "Both sides stressed that dialogue is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the region and to resolve the outstanding issues. Both sides strongly condemned the atrocities and human rights violations committed against Muslims around the world," it added.
It also stated that the Prime Minister briefed the Crown Prince on the grave human rights violations in IOK and the need for resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people. However, this portion with regard to the human rights violations in Kashmir was not incorporated in the joint statement issued upon the conclusion of the visit apparently due to the Crown Prince's upcoming visit to India.