Kashmir

The military partnership with Pakistan is important to Saudi Arabia... [Given the close ties, Pakistan Foreign Minister Qureshi's initial remarks were] very out of character for Pakistan... [The threat to convene a meeting bypassing the OIC] would directly undermine Saudi Arabia's posture, and position, of leadership in the Muslim world... I think that [FO] statement, more than anything, suggests that Pakistan will not take the actions [the foreign minister] hinted at in his remarks and it suggests that the Saudi reaction - including on the [Pakistani army chief's] trip - has led Pakistan to delicately walk back Qureshi's comments. [The walk-back indicated Pakistan] does not have the option of [turning away from Saudi Arabia] in any significant way... Pakistan's expectations from the OIC and Saudi Arabia on Kashmir have now been tempered, and realism has set in on that front for Islamabad. This ties Pakistan's hands a bit on the issue of Kashmir's autonomy. As long as Pakistan doesn't push Saudi Arabia where it doesn't want to be pushed [on Kashmir], the two countries can get past the spat.