Saudi Prince-Asim Munir | Image:AP
Saudi Arabia has silently given a big blow to Islamabad. Former Pakistani Army officer Adil Raja has claimed that the Saudi Prince has stopped the visit of Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to Riyadh. Also, he has clearly refused to meet any leader of Pakistan.
Adil Raja has claimed that this alleged setback has happened after the recent visit of UAE President to Pakistan and it reflects the increasing tension between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
What did Adil Raja say?
In a post on X, Raja suggested that Pakistan may face diplomatic opposition from Saudi Arabia.
His post read, “Tensions rising in the Gulf? After UAE President’s visit to Pakistan, there are reports of tension between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Sources claim Army Chief Asim Munir’s visit to Riyadh stopped, and Saudi Crown Prince refused to meet Pakistani leaders.”
While these claims have not been officially confirmed by Riyadh or Islamabad, they come at a sensitive time for Pakistan, which is heavily dependent on financial aid from the Gulf countries to stabilize its weak economy.
UAE leader’s visit to Pakistan
The speculation follows Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s recent visit to Pakistan, during which Islamabad presented itself as a potential mediator in Middle East tensions and emphasized deepening ties with the UAE. Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, publicly emphasized Abu Dhabi’s economic and strategic support.
However, diplomatic signals in the region suggest that Pakistan’s growing closeness with one Gulf power does not mean that relations with others will be smooth as well. Reports in recent weeks have pointed to unease between Saudi Arabia and the UAE over a number of regional issues, including Yemen and broader Middle East alliances.
In this backdrop, Raja’s claim that Asim Munir was unable to hold meetings in Riyadh, if true, would be a major blow to Pakistan’s military leadership, which has traditionally had close ties with Saudi Arabia. Any departure by the Saudi Crown Prince would be particularly damaging for Islamabad, which is dependent on Saudi financial aid, oil facilities and diplomatic support.
For Pakistan, the prospect of conflict with Saudi Arabia is also costly. With its economy under pressure on foreign exchange reserves and recurring financial support from Gulf allies, Islamabad has little room to maneuver diplomatically. Any thaw in relations will further expose Pakistan’s weakness and its limited influence in the rapidly changing Middle East environment.
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