Terrorists enemies of Islam: Abdullah
Says Pak-Saudi ties transcend frontiers of friendship; Musharraf warns Indo-Israeli nexus threat to Muslim world
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz al Saud said on Saturday the killers and terrorists were enemies of Islam and they wanted to frustrate the entire Islamic enterprise of culture and civilisation.
But, he underlined, the terrorists would be defeated. "We will be able to render them ineffective, frustrate and fail their evil designs," he said, while speaking at a banquet hosted by President Pervez Musharraf in his honour at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. The crown prince said that Saudi Arabia and Pakistan had proved to the world that Islam was a pioneering civilisation, which stood for good, well-being and justice.
The crown prince said the two countries have a deep relationship and have the potential and resources to realise progress and prosperity of their peoples. Abdullah said the two countries are facing the menace of terrorism. He added the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan transcends the frontiers of friendship and can survive vicissitudes of the time.
He expressed the hope that the peoples of the two countries would enhance their cooperation for still closer relationship to move toward a bright future for the two brotherly states.
Earlier, speaking at the banquet, President General Pervez Musharraf said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, as important pillars of the Ummah, are required to introspect, find realistic ways to move forward and protect the interests of the Muslim world.
The president said that the Muslim world not only faced its biggest challenge but was also divided. It is their responsibility to turn this situation around. "The two countries must help revive Islam’s glorious image as a religion of harmony, tolerance and emancipation, a tradition which is compatible with the universal values of fundamental human rights and the rule of law," he said.
President Musharraf said their deliberations and collective reflection at the OIC Summit gives confidence that a common approach will be devised to steer the Ummah out of its present crisis.
A rare reception to a time-tested friend
By Tariq Butt
ISLAMABAD: It was a rare, singular reception, accorded to a time-tested friend that has helped Pakistan without any consideration, colossally much more than any other since independence. The generosity continues uninterrupted.
The reception given to Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, having solid bonds with Pakistan, was absolutely befitting. Undoubtedly, there are no two opinions on welcoming the prince the way he was greeted.
It was difficult to name any top most political or military functionary of Pakistan, who was not present at the colourful and warm reception that Prince Abdullah was given at the Islamabad airport. There was a huge line-up of cabinet ministers, provincial governors and chief ministers and diplomats from the Muslim countries that was introduced to the visiting dignitary.
Not only that, hundreds of people thronged the airport and the route on which Prince Abdullah’s cavalcade travelled from the airport to the Punjab House in Islamabad where he will have an overnight stay before leaving for Saudi Arabia on Sunday afternoon.
The reception and presence of every top government leader at the tarmac to receive Prince Abdullah marked a departure from the practice Pakistan adopted a few years back, as heads of state and government were being received at the Aiwan-e-Sadr or the Prime Minister’s House, and not the airport.
Quite recently, Prince Abdullah had pulled Pakistan out of an impending deep and destabilising political crisis in December 2000, a move that both parties had tremendously hailed, and heaved a sigh of relief after it had materialised.
And now bitter political foes of President General Pervez Musharraf had no hesitation to attend the grand state banquet given by him in Prince Abdullah’s honour as every one of them said they attended it because of the Crown Prince, who has been always extremely kind and affectionate to Pakistan as a country. The unique occasion got together leaders of the political divide under one roof. Nobody declined Musharraf’s invitation to be at the banquet.
Given the oath of allegiance as crown prince on June 13, 1982, Abdullah, 79, is also the deputy premier and commander for the second time. He had come to Pakistan in October 1998, a few months after Pakistan had become a nuclear state. He had then visited Pakistan as part of his five-nation tour.
At the time, Prince Abdullah was also given a spectacular welcome. He had also visited Lahore and attended a huge civic reception at Shalimar Gardens.
Faced with a difficult economic scenario laden with sanctions in the wake of its nuclear tests, Saudi Arabia had again come to Pakistan’s rescue in the form of the Saudi oil facility that continues till to date.
Prince Abdullah visits Pakistan at a most crucial time the Ummah is facing particularly after the 9/11 episode and the Western media blitz against Islam and its attempts to equate Islam with terrorism and extremism. Three major issues, all involving and damaging the Muslims, the Iraq situation, the Middle East crisis and Afghanistan figure prominently in the crown prince’s talks with the Pakistani leaders.
"The visit assumes far greater importance. It gives the leaders of the two brotherly countries a chance to discuss all matters of bilateral, regional and international importance," says Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri.
"Stronger economic and cultural ties as well as regional and international issues are high on the agenda of talks," he adds.
Prince Abdullah is a deeply religious man, with an acute sense of responsibility towards his country and its people. From his earliest years he was closely involved in events both inside the kingdom and in the affairs and problems of the Arab and Muslim worlds. These experiences gained further enrichment from his wide reading in religion, history, politics and social affairs.
Agencies add: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz arrived here to a grand reception reflecting the depth of relations between the two brotherly countries.
He was received at the Islamabad International Airport by President General Pervez Musharraf, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali, Senate chairman, National Assembly speaker, provincial governors, chief ministers, federal ministers, services chiefs and diplomats.
The special Jumbo 747 touched down at Islamabad airport at 4.11 pm and 19 guns boomed as Prince Abdullah alighted from the aircraft.
President Musharraf and Prime Minister Jamali received the guest and a young boy presented a bouquet to the prince. Two F-16s followed by two Mirage aircraft flew past as the national anthems of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were played.
Prince Abdullah reviewed the guard of honour of a contingent of the three services of the armed forces.
A long reception line comprising the governors, chief ministers, ministers, diplomats, officials of Saudi Embassy greeted the Prince Abdullah and members of his entourage.
The flags of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia fluttered in light breeze at the airport building that was decorated with colourful banners, buntings and flower arrangements.
The motorcade of the prince, escorted by military police, was showered with rose petals by children as it came out of the airport building. Folk dancers, scouts, girl guides, the young and the old waved the flags of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
It was a festive atmosphere as thousands lined up along the route from the airport through the Islamabad highway, Faisal Avenue, Jinnah Avenue up to the President House.
Dancers, representing the culture of four provinces dotted the entire route. |
