By Arun Joshi

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s three-day visit  to Saudi Arabia that concluded on Sunday has brought among other things Pakistan’s renewed bid to invoke  their  intervention in resolving Kashmir issue with India. That there was a response to his appeal became clear when the Saudi government ministers , especially Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud  said that his country could play a role in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan.

This is a significant development – Saudi Arabia that is the leading member of the  57- Islamic countries block  Organisation of  Islamic Conference -– had refused to convene the OIC meet on Kashmir  when Pakistan had  asked  for  it  in the wake of  the abrogation of  Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir  within the Indian union.

Pakistan’s foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi  had charged the Saudi Arabia with walking away from its duty , and had also threatened that there could be a  parallel group  of  OIC and discuss Kashmir . This had strained relations between the two countries to a large extent.  This deterioration in their relations had come  down to a breaking point.

Post – US President Joe Biden’s declaration that American and NATO troops would start leaving Afghanistan from May 1 and complete the process of the 20^th anniversary of world’ most horrific terror attack on the American soil , known as 9/11, Pakistan has gained special importance . Its geographical location is very crucial for the  two super powers United States and China  because of their self-interest.  Washington is keen on exiting Afghanistan as early as possible and ensure that there is political stability in the war-torn countries after all American troops have returned home . Pakistan is de-facto controller of Taliban that has upped the ante . Its violent campaign has swamped Afghanistan . Besides gaining control of newer territories in Afghanistan , Taliban ‘s nuisance value at the international level has gone up  and it could scupper all the international plans to stabilize  Afghanistan and prevent it from becoming hub of terrorism  once again. The  9/11 was plotted by al-Qaeda from Taliban ruled Afghanistan in  September 2001. China, of course, has its own geo-strategic and geo-economic interests in Pakistan, and the two countries are  all-weather friends and  both of them have doubts about India.

The  significance of Saudi Arabia’ words of helping India and Pakistan easing tensions and resolving Kashmir issue  has come  after it was owned by the UAE- United Arab Emirates- that it had facilitated back-channel talks  between India and Pakistan in Dubai for reinstating the November 26,2003 ceasefire on the Line of Control , a de- facto border between Indian and Pakistan parts of Jammu and Kashmir . The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  has woken up to  its position as the leading Islamic country  . It has taken a very tough stand on the Israeli soldiers attack at Al Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem  on May 8 . This assertion has come both as a leading Islamic country concerned over the  plight of Palestinians  as also leader in monitoring the  global situation . The situation in Afghanistan, also an Islamic country is also on its radar , and it is aware of the role that Pakistan can play.

In a sense, Pakistan is playing a quid pro quo diplomacy on Afghanistan. It has conditioned its help in Afghanistan  in taming Taliban for international intervention on Kashmir .

It knows that the Indian position due to the ever-expanding Covid-9 crisis that has left thousands dead and tens of thousands infected  has suffered as it  relaying on the international aid to overcome the challenge of fighting the corona virus . Everything is not humanitarian in this humanitarian aid , Pakistan knows it. That’s why it is playing up the game of  putting India into a corner.

About the Author:

Arun Joshi is a senior journalist based in J&K. He has worked with Hindustan Times, Times of India, Indian Express and The Tribune.

He has authored “ Eyewitness Kashmir: Teetering on Nuclear War” and three other books.

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