THE expanding energy and economic cooperation between Pal(istan and Saudi Arabia could reshape both Islamabad’s foreign policy and its domestic politics.
Recent initiatives include proposed strategic oil storage, a petroleum storage and refining complex that is designed to accommodate very large crude carriers (VLCCs), cooperation in the minerals sector, and same-day Saudi visa processing for Pal(istanis at the embassy in Islamabad.
At home, the biggest promise is relatedto Balochistan. Large-scale infrastructure there could bring jobs and investment to a province thathaslongbeenleftbehind.
The state is confronting terrorism in the province through military operations, but force alone cannot resolve it. Durable development that reaches the common man is a necessary part of any lasting solution.
Abroad, the partnership also changes Pakistan’s strategic position. India enjoys cordial ties with Saudi Arabia, which hosts roughly 2.5 million Indian workers, and annual bilateral trade hovers around the $42 billion mark. Saudi stakes in Pakistani energy infrastructure provide Islamabad with additional diplomatic weight.
In a crisis, whether open conflict or what Pal(istan considers Indian-sponsored militancy, Saudi Arabia would have a direct interest in regional stability and the security of its assets. What matters now is delivery. These projects must be implemented and sustained, and their benefits must reach the people of Balochistan directly without intermediaries taking their share. If that happens, Pal(istan will have shown that an economic partnership can serve both security and justice targets.
Osama Shabbir Chaudhry Lahore