Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia and elsewhere are nervous about the outcome of the recent visit of Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to the Saudi kingdom, according to a Pakistani daily.
‘‘Their apprehension is that Saudi policy may tilt toward India instead of Pakistan. Pakistan’s Ambassador in Saudi Arabia Umer Khan Alisherzai has assured his fellow countrymen... that the ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia cannot be harmed by any external factor,’’ according to a report in The News daily.
Pakistan’s ambassador said that the two countries continue to enjoy excellent relations, which no other country can undermine. Alisherzai made the comments at a recent Pakistani community gathering in Jeddah, the report added.
According to the report, Indians are claiming that Singh was accorded an unprecedented welcome in Riyadh. During the visit Saudi Arabia and India signed 10 key economic and political accords, including the kingdom’s first-ever extradition treaty.
‘‘The Saudi-Pakistan ties are time-tested and will grow with the passage of time,’’ said the Pakistani ambassador, advising his community in Saudi Arabia to not get involved in politics and to try to abide by the kingdom’s rules and regulations faithfully.
Source: The News, Pakistan, March 8, 2010
