Can Turkey become Pakistan’s strategic partner at Cost of Others?

Ibn-e-Ameer

Should Pakistan shift its complete focus towards Turkey at cost of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar? Perhaps, No.

There are several reasons to justify that Pakistan should not choose Turkey as an alternative to these Middle East countries.

Pakistan has a long history of relations with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and even now Qatar.

Saudi Arabia and UAE had bailed out Pakistan on several occasions.

Even, Saudi Arabia and UAE had bailed out the PTI government financially when it came into power.

When the PTI government came into power, it had a big financial challenge like the balance of payment.

Saudi Arabia and UAE had stepped ahead who deposited over $6 billion in the Central Bank of Pakistan to counterbalance payments.

Saudi Arabia restores $1.5b deferred oil payment facility

In addition, Saudi Arabia had also announced a $3.2 billion worth of oil payment facility on deferred payment to address the issue of balance of payment and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.

How Saudi Arabia and Pakistan relations suffered due to the tilt of Pakistan towards Turkey.

Pakistan had started glorifying Turkey that upset Saudi Arabia and its allies. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are normal now.

In addition to bailing out financially, Saudi Arabia and UAE had given space to a lot of Pakistan’s manpower.

Pakistan receives a large portion of remittances from Saudi Arabia and UAE. These Middle East countries also offer a market for Pakistan’s trade.

Qatar is an emerging new partner of Pakistan. It had not only meeting the LNG requirement of Pakistan but is also going to become a strategic partner.

It had announced to export 100,000 manpower from Pakistan.

If Pakistan says ‘good by’ to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar at cost of Turkey, what the latter had to offer to Pakistan.

Pakistan had tried to sign Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey but Turkish businessmen had opposed and Pakistan had been unable so far to make any progress in this regard.

Moreover, it could not bail out Pakistan in a financial crisis. Further, it could not offer its market for Pakistan’s trade. Thirdly, it had also no space for Pakistan’s manpower.

Then, why should Pakistan consider Turkey as its alternative to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar?

The recent development of relations between Islamabad and Ankara is not guaranteed economic advantages for Pakistan because Turkey had limited financial capability.

That is why, Islamabad does not need to pose the Turkish side as an alternative to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar.

Turkey wants to become a new important player on logistic markets and to take trade streams from Pakistan’s ports to its harbors which is not profitable for Pakistan.