Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javad Bajwa is in Saudi Arabia on an official visit. He will discuss bilateral relations with the Saudi leadership, both civilian and military, Dawn reported. 

The visit came just three before the scheduled visit of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Gulf nation on May 7. The high-profile visit between the two nations comes after brief hiccups in ties last year. 

The ties between the two nations came under strain when Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood last year openly criticized Saudi Arabia after the latter refused to convey an emergency meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisaton of Islamic Countries (OIC) on Kashmir. 

The statement led the kingdom to demand Pakistan to return its loans which it paid through China’s help. Though soon after the controversy, Gen Bajwa rushed to Riyadh, but got no audience from the powerful Saudi Crown Prince, known better as MBS, there. 

The renewed engagement is expected to repair damaged ties. Pakistan, which has already in economic turmoil, is expecting the revival of Saudi’s financial assistance and loans. 

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have longstanding military ties, which are governed by a bilateral security cooperation agreement of 1982, under which Pakistan assists the kingdom in training and defense production capabilities.

Pakistani troops have, moreover, been stationed in Saudi Arabia in training and advisory role.(SAM)