ISLAMABAD: In a continuation of annual tradition, Saudi Arabia provided Pakistan with 150 tons of dates on Friday for distribution among the needy people.
These dates were given on the instruction of King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman, the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Saeed Al-Maliki formally handed over the dates on Friday to the representative of the Pakistan government in Islamabad.
“Everyone knows that Saudi Arabia is the pioneer in charity works, viewing it as its religious and moral duty to support brotherly countries, especially Pakistan,” the embassy said. “The Kingdom has never faltered to support the economies of Muslims and friendly countries without any discrimination.
“The Kingdom has long been a regional leader in humanitarian affairs and has demonstrated a profound commitment to support those most in need around the world.”
The statement added: “With almost 1.9 percent of Saudi Arabia’s gross national income, more than 80 countries have benefited from development assistance provided by Saudi Arabia in the form of humanitarian, development and grant assistance based on the injunctions of Allah Almighty and sayings of the Holy Prophet.”
As an annual tradition Saudi Arabia gives 150 tons of dates to Pakistan
As an annual tradition Saudi Arabia gives 150 tons of dates to Pakistan
Pull him off TV: Steve Bannon shuts down Sen. Lindsey Graham
- Trump’s former chief strategist called for the senator to be registered as a foreign agent
DUBAI: Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon called on Tuesday for US Senator Lindsey Graham to be registered as a foreign agent of the Israeli government, escalating a growing conservative backlash against the senator’s vocal support for Israel.
Speaking on his podcast “War Room,” Bannon said Graham should be “pulled off of television,” adding: "This is dangerous… because you have guys like Lindsey Graham and dozens more that are doing the wrong thing.”
In a Fox News interview on Monday, Graham said: “To all the antisemites, to all the isolationists… I’m not with you, I’m with Israel, I will be with Israel to our dying day.”
Graham also urged Gulf Arab states to join military action against Iran. “What I want you to do in the Middle East, to our friends in Saudi Arabia and other places, [is] step forward and say, ‘this is my fight too, I join America, I’m publicly involved in bringing this regime down,’” he said.
In a post on X, Graham questioned the value of a US defense agreement with Saudi Arabia following the evacuation of the American embassy in Riyadh, writing: “Why should America do a defense agreement with a country like the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that is unwilling to join a fight of mutual interest?”
Faisal Abbas, editor-in-chief of Arab News, responded to Graham’s comments in a Sky News interview, saying: “He flip flops so much, it’s actually entertaining.”
“On one hand, he says he will never set foot in Saudi Arabia. The next day, he’s here signing multimillion-dollar deals.”
“I don’t think anyone here takes him seriously,” Abbas added.
He warned Graham to be careful what he wished for: “Do you really want Saudi Arabia involved in this war putting our oil facilities at risk or do you want us stabilizing the energy markets?”
Graham pressed further, warning that inaction would carry a price. “Hopefully Gulf Cooperation Council countries will get more involved as this fight is in their backyard. If you are not willing to use your military now, when are you willing to use it?”
“Hopefully this changes soon. If not, consequences will follow.”
Graham's remarks drew sharp criticism from Bannon and others including podcast host Megyn Kelly.
She questioned on X whether Graham was overstepping his authority as a senator, writing: “When did Lindsay Graham become our president?”
Kelly also said Graham had threatened Lebanon, Cuba, Saudi Arabia, the wider Arab region, and Spain within a 24-hour period.
The problem with Graham “isn’t (just) that he’s a homicidal maniac, it’s that Trump likes and is listening to him,” she said in another post.
