President leaves for S. Arabia today - to dicuss possible troop deployment?

Society Military and Strategic Issues
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I wonder if this is mere speculation, or an actual move towards a full defence relationship with Saudi Arabia?

http://www.dawn.com/2003/06/11/top12.htm

President leaves for S. Arabia today

President Pervez Musharraf will embark on one-day visit of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, to discuss among other things, the possibility of deployment of Pakistan troops in Saudi Arabia. Official sources confirmed that President Pervez Musharraf would finalise the proposal of Pakistani troops’ deployment in the holy lands which was under discussion at highest levels between the two governments for quite some time.

After the decision of the US government to withdraw its forces from Saudi Arabia, it was felt by the Saudi government that Pakistan should be asked to send its troops to guard the holy places. The sources said that Pakistan troops would be in greater number this time as compared to the previous deployment. President Musharraf was originally scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia on May 28 but the visit was called off at the last moment, as Crown Prince Abdullah was out of country. An announcement by Foreign Office on Tuesday said that President Pervez Musharraf would pay a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia on June 11, to meet the Saudi leadership and express Pakistan’s support and solidarity with the Saudi people. The official announcement said that the president would also convey condolences on the reprehensible incidents of terrorism which led to tragic loss of precious lives in the kingdom. The president will exchange views with the Saudi leadership on bilateral relations and on the global and regional situation.The president will also perform Umra during his stay in Saudi Arabia.

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Re: President leaves for S. Arabia today - to dicuss possible troop deployment?

:k:

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Interesting move, if Pakistan does indeed deploy its troops in KSA.

With Pakistani troops in KSA and possibly in Iraq, it suggests interesting times ahead?

I suppose Pakistan can now afford to send its troops in the countries mentioned above. We have nothing to worry about from being attacked by India - they have shown they do not what it takes to go to war with Pakistan. So this will free up resources and an opportunity to make a lot of money.

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Good news

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Very Good news for Pakistan bad news for Indians

Very Good news for Pakistan bad news for Indians.............

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Good news, but at the same time im worried about the indian agression. However when we had alot of our troops gaurding the west afghan border, we were slightly vulnerable, but still had 4 to 5 lines of solid defence, that can send some indians rolling back to delhi.

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^ Yaar, I would not worry about the Indians anymore. The stand-off that took place last year proved once and for all that the Indians do not have what it takes to attack Pakistan. The Indians have realised that Pakistan is not like the unarmed Muslims of Gujarat.

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As far as Holy land of Haramain is concerned, it is our duty to be in Saudi Arabia instead of any non-Muslim forces. Very good news indeed! I am least concerned about India.

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It's a great move and no doubt the people of Saudi will be a lot happier to see our professional forces on their land instead of Americans. Once again the military effectiveness of our armed forces is gaining due recognition and it should be an excellent source of revenue as well as raising the Pakistani profile world-wide.

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2bornot2b nailed it.

Haven't been following current affairs/politics lately. Just wondering, what was the outcome of the President's visit? Did Pakistan and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia agree on Pakistan's troop deployment?

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Pakistan to send more troops to Saudi Arabia

BRUSSELS: **Civil and military authorities in Pakistan have decided to provide additional military and security personnel to Saudi Arabia to fill the gap created by the withdrawal of the US and other Western troops from the Kingdom, reliable defence sources told The News.

Saudi Arabia has already given a pledge to Pakistani authorities it would welcome additional Pakistani military and security advisers and troops primarily to replace the Western military personnel who have left the kingdom over the last year.**

Pakistani military personnel in Saudi Arabia would play an effective role in several projects designed to bolster the defence and security of the kingdom. “Pakistani military and security personnel sent to Saudi Arabia would play two-pronged security related role: first, to replace some of the westerners who have left or leaving the kingdom and secondly, to help in the expansion of the security related projects already being executed by Pakistani personnel in Saudi Arabia,” the defence source underlined.

The defence sources indicated that the need of Pakistan military and security personnel in Saudi Arabia would increase enormously in the days to come as the acceptability of the American troops in the Kingdom is affected by the recent cleavage in the US-Saudi relations created by a 28 pages of the joint congressional report on the events leading up to the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, which American refuse to declassify despite repeated requests by Saudi Arabia.

The changed circumstances have provided yet another opportunity to further bolster the defence and security relations in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has already conveyed to the government of Pakistan its decision to get more Pakistani military and security advisers and personnel, the defence source indicated.

The report on new enthusiasm in Pak-Saudi defence and security relations has perplexed none in the West as Western governments are aware of the fact that Pakistan is a leading ally of Saudi Arabia. Pakistani armed forces are regarded as the most reliable source always available to bolster the defence and security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region.

Citing the role played by the Pakistani armed forces in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, the defence source said, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Libya, Jordan and other countries had been inviting Pakistani military missions to reorganize and train their defence forces. In the Gulf War of 1991, Pakistani ground forces played their role in Saudi Arabia’s defence, and thereafter in prolonged mine clearing operations in Kuwait. Pakistani fighter pilots took part in aerial combat over Syria against Israeli pilots, the defence source recalled.

“The initiative to further strengthen Pakistan-Saudi military relations by sending more Pakistani military and security personnel is suited to both the countries as Pakistan helps in operating aircraft and navel vessels in Saudi Arabia, besides training military and security personnel in the Kingdom”, a defence report opined.

Additional Pak forces in Saudi Arabia, besides other operations, would put in action the expansion plan of the existing light weapons and ammunition production venture in the Kingdom by including the project to produce mortar and heavy munitions, the defence source said.

…and now the above report ‘confirms’ that Pakistan has already deployed its troops to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Pakistan is willing to send more troops in order strengthen Military relations between the two nations.

Good on Crown Prince & Mushy!

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U go mushy man.... we need more of that... atleast we know taht the ka'bah will be protected... well allah is protectin it anyway.. but still..

anyway.. kepp it goin mushy.... guys i think there is inshallah a better future for pak.... but we need to strive still.. as pak is the only muslim country which is high in brain and other things..

Allah hafiz

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It seems that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are about to establish a full fledged defence relationship, which will probably leade to thousands (if not tens of thousands) of Pakistani soldiers being stationed in Saudi Arabia.