ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has sought Saudi support to build diplomatic pressure on
US to stop drone attacks inside Pakistani territories reiterating that these
strikes were counter productive in international drive against terrorism.
“Yes, we are seeking support from not only Kingdom of Saudi Arabia but also
the entire international community to convince US that drone attacks were
impeding rather helping the war against terrorism,” said Minister of State for
Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar answering a question after media briefing on
her last visit to the Kingdom. She referred to Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza
Gilani’s recent statement in this regard wherein Pakistan has sought diplomatic
support from world capitals to convince US to stop predators’ hitting civilians
while targeting militants.
She claimed that her visit had restored the mutual trust and Pakistan and
Saudi Arabia were on the same page in dealing with the issue of Afghanistan and
international counter terror drive.
Backing her claim of restoring traditionally cordial ties with the Saudis,
the Minister of State said that KSA has understood Pakistan’s challenges with
energy crisis on top of them and has offered to finance hydropower projects
chiefly Diamer-Bhasha Dam. “No only the government of KSA would support
Hydropower development in Pakistan but it would also encourage other development
and private funds to join hands in consortia to finance cheapest power
generation here,” she said in her off the cuff opening remarks.
The Minister described her visit to Saudi Arabia as a breakthrough for
Pakistan’s external trade development. “We anticipate earliest possible
conclusion of Pak-GCC Free Trade Agreement with the active support of Saudi
Arabia. And this is the message we want to give out to the world that we need
trade not aid,” she observed.
“We have paid the highest price in the war on terror in terms of lives,
economic losses, and many other irreparable damages to the country as well as
society. Deserving compensation from across the glob we seek assistance in terms
of trade, investment, and access to markets and not aid,” she maintained.
Apart from trade Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have also agreed to cooperate in
the field of Agriculture. Specific projects in sectors namely diary forming,
corporate forming, mechanization, and food processing would be launched, the
Minister said.
To a question about sale of lands to Saudis, she said, “we don’t have to go
for sale purchase deals with any foreign party. There is a huge market of
processed food in Saudi Arabia and we can go for joint ventures to install food
processing plants in Pakistan,” the minister observed.
To a question on Indian missions in Afghanistan allegedly working against
Pakistan, she said, “we don’t want Afghan lands used by any country for
misadventures in Pakistan.”
Replying questions regarding Pakistani’s languishing in Saudi jails she said,
Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide consular access to all those that require in
any case. “We have agreed in principle to institutionalize consular access
mechanism as millions of Pakistanis are living and working in Saudi Arabia. In
terms of manpower Pakistan has contributed a lot to the development of Saudi
Arabia,” she added.online
