May 12th 2024.
The much-awaited visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud to Pakistan, scheduled for May 19, has been delayed once again. The Pakistani government, which has been diligently preparing for the high-profile visit for weeks, has not disclosed the reasons behind the postponement. However, sources have revealed that the Crown Prince is quite dissatisfied with the current situation in the country.
According to insiders, the Saudi Crown Prince is particularly displeased with the recent political developments in Pakistan, including some statements made by certain leaders that have been viewed as an attempt to involve Saudi Arabia in the country's internal affairs. In particular, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Sher Afzal Marwat recently accused the "Saudi influence" of preventing him from being considered for the Chairman's post of the Public Accounts Committee. He even went as far as claiming that Saudi Arabia played a role in the regime change operation carried out by the United States to overthrow the government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan. Marwat's statements have caused quite a stir and have resulted in his removal from the core and political committee of PTI, as well as a show-cause notice for damaging relations with Saudi Arabia.
Political analyst Javed Siddique believes that Marwat's comments have definitely angered Saudi Arabia, as they directly accuse the country of interfering in Pakistan's domestic politics. The Saudis do not take such accusations lightly, and it is likely that this has played a role in the cancellation of MBS' visit to Pakistan. Siddique also admits that this is a significant setback for the country.
On the other hand, government sources claim that there are still some economic matters that need to be resolved between the two parties before the Crown Prince's visit can be finalized. Saudi investors and businessmen have shown interest in certain projects in Pakistan, but the terms of the agreements have not been finalized yet. The government has been striving to ensure that the visit is not postponed again, as it could result in more Saudi investment in the country.
Although a revised schedule for the visit has not been announced by the Foreign Ministry, sources suggest that the Crown Prince may visit Pakistan in the third week of June, just after the Hajj and Eid-ul-Azha holidays. This would allow for ample time for the economic matters to be ironed out and for a successful visit to take place. The Pakistani government is determined to make this visit a success and to strengthen the already strong ties between the two countries.
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