Pakistan may become the latest arena for Saudi Arabia and Iran's rivalry as it accepts billions of dollars in aid and investment from Riyadh.
div > div.group > p:first-child"> Perhaps one of the most visually memorable moments of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's red carpet tour of Asia last month was the gifting to him, by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, of a gold-plated submachine gun. Pakistan, the crown prince's first stop on his tour that also included India and China, announced a national holiday in honor of his visit, calling Saudi Arabia"a friend in need.
"Mohammed bin Salman has this strategic view that you've got to pressure Iran. And with Pakistan, he'd love to be able to pressure Iran from two sides," Gregory Gause, head of the International Affairs Department at Texas A&M University, told CNBC. And the Iranians aren't taking it lightly — Tehran has long accused Saudi Arabia of fomenting unrest in its border area with Pakistan, which is home to Iranian Sunni anti-regime militants who have launched numerous attacks on Iranian military personnel. The Saudis deny the accusations.
Pakistan's military is ranked as the world's 17th strongest, according to military analysis website GlobalFirepower.com, in between Israel and North Korea. Saudi Arabia's is ranked 25th. There are plenty of ways this could backfire on the Pakistanis. For one, Iran, which is Shia, could foment sectarian unrest within Pakistan's 20 percent Shia population, the second-largest of any country in the world. Thousands of Pakistanis have been killed in sectarian violence in the last decade.
Pakistan"to some extent already has" become a proxy theater for Iran and Saudi Arabia, Gause said, but he added that this was at a relatively low level — nothing like what we've seen in Syria, Yemen or Iraq, for instance. That's because Pakistan is a relatively stronger state that hasn't been crippled by war.
Indonesia Berita Terbaru, Indonesia Berita utama
Similar News:Anda juga dapat membaca berita serupa dengan ini yang kami kumpulkan dari sumber berita lain.
Family of dual US-Saudi citizen being held in Saudi Arabia believes he has been torturedA dual US-Saudi citizen being held in Saudi Arabia, Dr. Walid Fitaihi, says he is afraid for his life and his lawyer says his family believes he has been tortured.
Baca lebih lajut »
The Latest: Top Saudi diplomat expected in IslamabadISLAMABAD (AP) — The Latest on escalating India-Pakistan tensions (all times local): 2:45 p.m. Pakistan's foreign minister says a top Saudi diplomat is coming to Islamabad later in the...
Baca lebih lajut »
China won't judge you: Why Saudi Arabia's crown prince is betting billions on AsiaRiyadh is strengthening and diversifying its international relationships based on both economic and geopolitical interests.
Baca lebih lajut »
Kushner meets with Saudi crown prince for first time since Khashoggi killingJared Kushner met Tuesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the United States' first known face-to-face meeting since the Saudi government's murder of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi
Baca lebih lajut »
Pentagon awards Lockheed Martin nearly $1 billion for Saudi missile system dealManufactured by Lockheed Martin, the Pentagon's top weapons supplier, THAAD is regarded as America's crown jewel in missile defense systems.
Baca lebih lajut »
U.S., Saudi Arabia and UK back 'global coalition' for JordanThere should be no confusion over the United States' support for key Middle...
Baca lebih lajut »
Saudi Aramco adds Goldman Sachs as bookrunner for planned bond: sourcesSaudi Aramco has added Goldman Sachs as a bookrunner for a planned bond which wi...
Baca lebih lajut »