Alwaght- Saudi Arabia and Pakistan began their first joint counter-terrorism exercises on Monday in the Punjab Gurat district.
The ‘Al-Shahab-I Counter-Terrorism Exercises’ are planned for 12 days at the National Counter-terrorism Training Centre near the Pakistani city of Kharian.
Although the joint counter-terrorism exercises are unprecedented, the two countries have previously participated in military war games, dubbed Al-Samsam.
The latest military cooperation provides an understanding of the defence cooperation between Riyadh and Islamabad which is an indicator of the cordiality of relations between them.
In the last few decades, ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan can be described as friendly.
However, following the Saudi-led war against Yemen, the two allies’ relations began to take a turn to the worse. Pakistan showed reluctance to take an active role in the Saudi aggression to a request from the Saudis. Islamabad refused to send troops to fight in Yemen.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia possess advanced weapons. It has an enormous arms arsenal and cache. Recently, Saudi Arabia signed an $11.4 bn arms deal.
However, what it possesses in weapons it lacks in military power. Riyadh’s forces are incapable of using its weapons. That’s why it has previously employed Egyptian and Jordanian forces to do so instead. Due to disputes Riyadh is seeking to recruit Pakistani forces.
For Pakistan, the offer may seem enticing as its officials have always been lured by Saudi’s cash. In exchange for Saudi money, Pakistan allows Saudi Arabia to spread its Wahhabi ideology in the country in a bid to brainwash Muslims in Pakistan into adopting extremism as doctrine.
Aside from this point, Saudi Arabia also finds Pakistan’s nuclear weapons appealing to its interests. In 2013, BBC learned that Saudi Arabia had invested in Pakistani nuclear weapons projects, and believed it could obtain atomic bombs at will.
What these two countries have in common is a growing fear of Iran’s rising influence in Asia.
Prince Turki Faisal, a former Saudi intelligence chief, had warned earlier this year against Iran's encroachment on Arab and Muslim nations in the region.
“As we are dealing with Yemen, Iran’s imperial ambitions will be checked in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq,” Faisal said in a statement.
The former Saudi ambassador to the United States and United Kingdom, also called Pakistan’s decision to stay neutral in the ongoing Yemen war “disappointing.”
“Some mealy mouthed politicians have forgotten what the Kingdom has done for Pakistan since its birth,” the Saudi prince added.
In addition to Yemen, the Saudi regime is fighting Iran’s influence on several fronts including Syria where it is funding terrorist groups battling against Damascus and Iraq. Riyadh is clearly concerned about its status as a major power in the region.
For its part, Pakistan contests Iran’s influence in neighbouring Afghanistan. Relations between the two countries have been affected by their interests in Afghanistan.
Nonetheless, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan still maintain a cordial relationship. Riyadh, on the one hand, takes advantage of Pakistan’s force and capabilities while the latter makes use of Saudi’s financial bounty. This means that so far, the two have been able to maintain a mutually interest-based relationship which the latest anti-terrorist drill is a show of.
