Dr. A. Z. Hilali (IR Expert): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have cordial ties and close understanding on regional and international issues of importance. The two countries are further enhancing their cooperation to facilitate each other in agriculture, education and other fields. Saudi Arabia is also helping Pakistan come out of its economic difficulties. Skilled and tech educated manpower of Pakistan can play a great role in development of Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Zahid Anwar Khan (IR Expert): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy deep rooted relations. These ties have further strengthened over the passage of time. Saudi Arabia has also a special place in the heart of Muslims worldwide due location of to holiest places of Islam in the country. Pakistan has always supported Saudi Arabia on issue of Palestine and other crises in the Middle East. Pakistan always stands by its Saudi brethren. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia has always helped Pakistan in times of difficulty. A large number of Pakistani expatriates are providing services to build the Saudi economy. Any negative propaganda cannot hurt the relations between the two brotherly countries. West has double standards on issues faced by Muslim countries. OIC needs to be activated to raise the difficulties faced by Muslims worldwide.

Brig. (Retd.) Said Nazir (Defense Analyst): The world has adopted double standards on the situation in Afghanistan. The decades of war in Afghanistan saw an investment in war machine only. If a fraction of that money was spent on development, Afghanistan would not have been in this dire situation today. The Afghan people are facing the looming threat of starvation this winter. The Taliban government is not being recognized by the world and billions of dollars of its assets have been frozen by the US. The world is only punishing the already traumatized Afghan people. If stability does not return to Afghanistan, the terror groups like Al Qaeda and Daesh will get strength to take benefit of the situation.

Abdullah Gul (IR Expert): Washington tried to choke the new Afghan government by freezing its assets worth billions of dollars. The situation in Afghanistan is becoming critical and there is a looming threat of mass starvation of ordinary Afghans. US will now try to portray itself as a friend of Afghanistan now. Afghan government needs to be strengthened to stop the threat of Daesh and other extremist groups still present in Afghanistan. The US government is also running back channel diplomacy with Taliban to have its influence. Pakistan rendered a lot of sacrifices during war in Afghanistan. Islamabad is still under the grey list of FATF and paying the price for its peace efforts in Afghanistan.