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Why Pakistan should not take Saudi money
[Al Jazeera] That Soddy Arabia...a kingdom taking up the bulk of the Arabian peninsula. Its primary economic activity involves exporting oil and soaking Islamic rubes on the annual hajj pilgrimage. The country supports a large number of princes in whatcha might call princely splendor. When the oil runs out the rest of the world is going to kick sand in the Soddy national face... is playing a subversive role with its financing of certain krazed killer groups is not an accusation that has been levelled only in Pakistain. Just this week, the European Commission added the country (alongside Pakistain) to its blacklist of nations that pose a threat because of lax controls on "terror financing and money laundering". Pakistain's reliance on Saudi money to keep its failing economy afloat has kept Pak politician silent on the issues of problematic financing. Prime Minister Khan has previously admitted that the country cannot afford to turn down Saudi Arabia's investment and aid offers because it is "desperate for money". But what cost are we willing to pay for Saudi money? While any economic investment is most welcome, Khan must tell Prince Mohammed that it cannot come at the price of its internal stability. It is time that Islamabad reconsiders its decades-old transactional relationship with Riyadh. Pakistain cannot afford to be a battleground where Saudi Arabia and Iran settle their scores. It cannot be complicit in the rise of anti-Shia violence or destabilisation of neighbouring countries any longer. What Pakistain needs even more than money is religious harmony and stability. If the Pak government does not put an end to Saudi Arabia's harmful actions within its borders, peace in the country and in the region will be at great risk. And no aid package is worth that. Posted by: Fred 2019-02-18 |
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