Pakistan’s prime minister visits allies for aid
AX INTEL BULLETIN: Pakistan’s prime minister visits allies for aid
DATE: 29OCT2020
Later this week Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, will travel to China, the second foreign country he has visited since assuming office in August. The main purpose of his travel is the same as for his recent trip to Saudi Arabia: to acquire financial assistance to shore up a hemorrhaging Pakistan economy…
AX INTEL BULLETIN: Pakistan’s prime minister visits allies for aid
DATE: 29OCT2020
Later this week Pakistan’s prime minister, Imran Khan, will travel to China, the second foreign country he has visited since assuming office in August. The main purpose of his travel is the same as for his recent trip to Saudi Arabia: to acquire financial assistance to shore up a hemorrhaging Pakistan economy. Khan came away from Saudi Arabia with a handsome bounty in the form of $3 billion in balance-of-payment assistance and another $3 billion in deferred oil payments. China has meanwhile hinted that it may show new generosity toward its partner in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
If the Saudi contribution comes at a propitious time for Pakistan, it also provides the kingdom an opportunity to serve its own interests. Saudi Arabia has bailed out Pakistan’s economy before, and has long been active in influencing its culture and politics. But for the first time Saudi Arabia is using Pakistan’s neediness to make major infrastructure investments that could give the kingdom a significant stake in Pakistan’s economy.
The kingdom is also buying additional insurance that it can continue, as it has for decades, to count on Pakistan’s military for its domestic defense—if necessary now to foil a coup against the regime. Riyadh no doubt also hopes that in its rivalry with Iran, it can further tilt Pakistan in Saudi Arabia’s direction. Given its ties to Iran, Pakistan could also be the kingdom’s logical choice for a mediator in ending the Yemeni conflict. And at this time when the Saudi monarchy is feeling particularly insecure after receiving international condemnation for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, the kingdom has with its largesse gained assurance of Pakistan’s steadfast allegiance.Tags: china, pakistan, saudi arabia, economics, yemen