Riyadh blocks Asim Munir visit? After UAE outreach, Islamabad faces Saudi cold shoulder, claims ex-Pak Army officer

A broken frame of Pakistan's field marshal and army chief, Asim Munir, hangs on the wall after an attack at the Cadet College Wana, a military-linked school, in the South Waziristan district near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, on November 13, 2025. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP)

Former Pakistan Army officer Adil Raja claims Saudi Arabia blocked Army Chief Asim Munir’s visit to Riyadh, signaling strains after the UAE President’s Pakistan trip. The alleged snub raises concerns over Pakistan’s ties with Gulf states amid economic reliance.

Did our AI summary help?

Fresh doubts are emerging over Pakistan’s standing in the Gulf after former Pakistan Army officer Adil Raja claimed that Saudi Arabia has quietly rebuffed Islamabad, including allegedly blocking a proposed visit by Army Chief Asim Munir to Riyadh. Raja suggested the reported snub followed the UAE President’s recent visit to Pakistan and reflects growing strains between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

In a post on X, Raja suggested that Pakistan may be facing diplomatic pushback from Saudi Arabia.

“Gulf tensions brewing? After the UAE President’s visit to Pakistan, strains are being reported between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Sources claim Army Chief Asim Munir’s Riyadh visit was blocked, with the Saudi Crown Prince declining meetings with Pakistani leaders,” his post read.

BIG | Gulf tensions brewing? After the UAE President’s visit to Pakistan, strains are being reported between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Sources claim Army Chief Asim Munir’s Riyadh visit was blocked, with the Saudi Crown Prince declining meetings with Pakistani leaders. pic.twitter.com/jQiR316Bn0

— The Alternate Media (@AlternateMediaX) December 31, 2025

While the claims have not been officially confirmed by Riyadh or Islamabad, they come at a sensitive moment for Pakistan, which is heavily dependent on financial support from Gulf states to stabilise its fragile economy.

The speculation follows the recent visit of Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to Pakistan, during which Islamabad projected itself as a potential mediator in Middle East tensions and highlighted deepening ties with the UAE. Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, publicly emphasised Abu Dhabi’s economic and strategic support.

However, diplomatic signalling in the region suggests that Pakistan’s growing closeness with one Gulf power does not automatically translate into comfort with others. Reports in recent weeks have pointed to unease between Saudi Arabia and the UAE on several regional issues, including Yemen and broader Middle East alignments.

Against this backdrop, Raja’s claim that Asim Munir was unable to secure meetings in Riyadh, if accurate, would mark a notable setback for Pakistan’s military leadership, which traditionally enjoys close ties with Saudi Arabia. Any perceived distancing by the Saudi Crown Prince would be especially damaging for Islamabad, given its reliance on Saudi financial assistance, oil facilities and diplomatic cover.

Pakistan’s leadership has not responded publicly to Raja’s assertions. Nor has Saudi Arabia issued any statement indicating a shift in its approach toward Islamabad. Still, the claim has fuelled speculation in Pakistani and regional circles about whether Pakistan’s attempts to balance relations among competing Gulf powers are beginning to strain its long-standing partnerships.

For Pakistan, even the perception of friction with Saudi Arabia is costly. With foreign reserves under pressure and repeated bailouts from Gulf allies keeping its economy afloat, Islamabad has little room to manoeuvre diplomatically. Any cooling of ties would further expose Pakistan’s vulnerability and its limited leverage in a rapidly shifting Middle East landscape.