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KARACHI: It is one small step for Imran Khan; a giant leap for Pakistan鈥檚 bilateral ties with the Kingdom.
Beginning Tuesday, in what would be his first foreign trip after taking office in August, Pakistan鈥檚 newly-installed prime minister will visit 抖阴短视频, before heading to the UAE.
Former diplomats, including those who served in 抖阴短视频, viewed the move as an attempt to strengthen the historic ties between Riyadh and Islamabad. 鈥淧akistan has always enjoyed special relations with 抖阴短视频 and the two governments continue to help each other whenever possible,鈥� Shahid M. Amin, Pakistan鈥檚 former ambassador to the Kingdom, said.
Observing that the 鈥渘ext couple of days are very important鈥�, Amin said PM Khan must keep in line with tradition by nurturing the bond between the two countries 鈥� just like every other prime minister before him.
He recalled instances when Pakistani troops were stationed in 抖阴短视频. 鈥淪imilarly, when Pakistan faced an economic embargo in the aftermath of the nuclear blasts on May 28, 1998, it was KSA [Kingdom of 抖阴短视频] that generously extended economic help and provided free oil to the country for three years,鈥� he told Arab News on Monday.
Imtiaz Gul, Executive Director of Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), said the visit was 鈥渂asically a renewal of the past relations with the 抖阴短视频,鈥� which, he added, had always been good.
And while PM Khan had once opposed the appointment of General (Retd.) Raheel Sharif as the head of the 39-nation Islamic military alliance, Gul said every move and decisions he makes now 鈥渟hould be well-calculated鈥�. 鈥淭ime has proven that the alliance Sharif is heading is against terrorism. Now鈥han will focus on the economic issues,鈥� Amin said.