Thats really interesting here. Now SA is asked to get involved in the whole game. Does that mean more chances to bring Nawaz Sharif in power, as we all know how close he is with the Saudi rulers. I’m wondering what steps will SA take to help out in this situation…
Pool photograph by Jason Reed
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates with Charge d’ Affaires David Rundell, second left, and Ibrahim Al-Malik, Director of Saudi Arabia’s Armed Forces Public Affairs, after arriving in Riyadh on Tuesday.
By [(Taliban - The New York Times) advances in Pakistan that, he said, threaten the very existence of the government in Islamabad.
[
Mr. Gates said Saudi Arabia “clearly has a lot of influence throughout the region,” and he cited its “long-standing and close relationship with Pakistan.”
The defense secretary called on Pakistan’s allies across the region to assist in countering insurgent successes that represent a growing danger to Pakistan, and Mr. Gates said a goal of this week’s meetings with Afghan and Pakistani leaders in Washington would be to reach consensus on the nature of the threat.
In the past, the Pakistani government and its military have been far more focused on their traditional adversary, India, than on the domestic insurgency.
As Mr. Gates concluded talks in Egypt earlier Tuesday, the shadow of Iran’s regional ambitions prompted the defense secretary to declare that efforts by the Obama administration to seek better ties with Tehran would not jeopardize its relations with allies in the region.
He stressed that historic American partners in the Middle East would be kept fully informed of Washington’s diplomatic efforts toward Iran. The Obama administration was undertaking that effort to reach out to Iran “with its eyes wide open,” he said.
“If we encounter a closed fist when we extend our open hand, then we will react accordingly,” Mr. Gates said. “Concerns out here of some kind of a ‘grand bargain’ developed in secret are completely unrealistic and, I would say, are not going to happen.”](“http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/06/world/middleeast/06gates.html?hp#secondParagraph")]("http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/thom_shanker/index.html?inline=nyt-per”)
SA is already involved, Taliban of Swat follows Wahabism !
You missed the point once again. Its not about religious belief, its about the political influence that SA may exert in the region. Read the coverage report please.
You missed the point once again. Its not about religious belief, its about the political influence that SA may exert in the region. Read the coverage report please.
Saudia don't have democracy and neither have any political institution to show as role model. Their have respect because of stature as Holy Land, nothing else.
As far as their so-called political influence concerned, its oil money and wahbi-ism !
Re: Saudia is asked to jump in the Pakistan-Taliban move
Pakistanis consider Saudis to be their Baap and worship the ground that Saudis walk on
Every single Pakistani leader needs Saudi blessing before he can rule Pakistan
I think its a very smart move by USA to get the Saudis to finally convince the idiots in Pakistan who still refuse to beleive that the Taliban is a threat
I am very impressed by USA who are finally beginning to understand Pakistani psyche
Re: Saudia is asked to jump in the Pakistan-Taliban move
while elite pakistanis consider america their baap and that is totally legitimate for the sake of our country in the twisted brains of some people(altough this baap gladly gladly hands us over to the evil saudi baap when it suits their purpose). amazing insight.
Re: Saudia is asked to jump in the Pakistan-Taliban move
hasn't KSA always been involved in pakistan anyways? from their involvement with the whole afghan-soviet war to the regional power games against Iran, blessing diff rulers of pakistan and providing refuge to others.
hasn't KSA always been involved in pakistan anyways? from their involvement with the whole afghan-soviet war to the regional power games against Iran, blessing diff rulers of pakistan and providing refuge to others.
They have been. Even Saudis tried (or were 'offered'?) to help Afghan Taliban and US negotiate.
I doubt that the ethnic pashtuns will take orders from an arab king.
Saudia will not be able to quell things down now.
People like smell of printed money ;), when US landed in Afghanistan they bought a bunch of warlords with buckets full of $$$$. You never know what you can achieve until you try.
Re: Saudia is asked to jump in the Pakistan-Taliban move
Problem is too entrenched in the community now. What is any arab king going to do - appeal to Pakistanis to stop supporting these goons? They've already denounced terrorism a million times, but nothing happens.
I dont think Pakistanis worship saudis at all. like many people and nations who are after money for business or survival or greed, there may be few who loves money!!
