‘Brothers forever': Pakistani military acknowledges Saudi role in truce with India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's military spokesman, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has acknowledged Saudi Arabia's role in helping secure a ceasefire with India, after the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged heavy cross-border fire this month.
India on May 7 launched a series of strikes across the Line of Control — the de facto border that separates the Indian-controlled and Pakistani-controlled parts of Kashmir. It also hit other sites on the Pakistani mainland, targeting what it claimed were militant positions.
Pakistan retaliated with strikes on Indian military targets before the ceasefire took effect on May 10, following efforts by world powers and friendly nations, including Saudi Arabia, to quickly de-escalate the conflict.
The Kingdom's role in mediation was 'very positive and wonderful,' Lt. Gen. Chaudhry told Arab News.
Pakistan and India have fought multiple wars since their independence from British rule in 1947. Two of the wars were over the disputed region of Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule in part.
The recent escalation came days after New Delhi blamed Pakistan for a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir — Islamabad denied any involvement.
As the neighbors exchanged fire, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir visited both New Delhi and Islamabad. The May 10 truce was reached shortly afterward.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share close diplomatic and strategic relations, and the Kingdom has provided significant support to Pakistan during its prolonged economic challenges in recent years.
'The bond between the people of Pakistan and the people of Saudi Arabia is very strong, and we in the armed forces have a very close bond with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. And this is a relationship that is based on respect,' Lt. Gen. Chaudhry said.
'Saudis are our brothers, brothers forever.'
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Arab News
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He also dismissed the idea that Pakistan had considered launching a broader conventional offensive across the border, saying modern warfare was no longer dependent on crossing territorial lines: 'Now you don't have to cross the border. You don't have to capture the territory. Capturing territory or crossing over... that is something which is obsolete. War is being fought now... cyber.' The defense minister also said there had been no back-channel diplomacy between Islamabad and New Delhi following the May 10 ceasefire, although military operations heads in both countries had been in contact via a hotline. And while the Pakistan-India clash may have faded from global headlines amid the ongoing crisis between Israel and Iran in the Middle East, Asif said India remained Pakistan's most pressing security concern. 'We have been on alert so we have not lowered guards, that I can confirm,' the defense minister said, particularly due to concerns Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi could resort to fresh military action as he was under pressure from a public questioning how Pakistani forces struck military facilities deep inside the country and downed Indian jets. Modi also has domestic political pressures to manage ahead of elections in Bihar, a pivotal swing state that is crucial for both national and state-level power equations. 'Modi has internal compulsions to avenge [the May conflict] … There are elections around the corner… and his popularity has plummeted, his political opponents can smell blood, politically,' Asif said. 'That can drive him to some desperate measures, otherwise, I don't think so there is a possibility of some replay of what happened a month back.'
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