Death of a legendary King

The passing away of the custodian of the two Holy Mosques, Saudi monarch, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, has not only deprived the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of one of its great motivated rulers, who guided the desert country in its blossoming into an envious rise, as a country to be reckoned with not only economically, but politically too.
For the Arabs and Muslim countries, his removal from the scene will certainly be viewed as a vacuum. An idea of this may well be had from the messages of shock and bewilderment pouring in from all over the world. It will, however, be noted that most of the sentiments of sorrow and grief, as expressed in such messages stand marked with the confidence that the Kingdom would continue to advance on the road to progress and stability with assured success.
This, undoubtedly, serves as testimony to his laudable performance as a ruler. Assuming the Saudi throne on June 13, 1982 following the death of his brother King Khaled, he had to face several challenges. However, inured to hardship from long years of political experience, first as minister of education and later as minister of the interior, the crown prince and as an international statesman, he managed to meet them wonderfully well, in accordance with the harsh realities of the changing internal and external circumstances.
Reference, in this regard, may specifically be made to the then ongoing Iran-Iraq war, the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, which was in its third year, as also to the turmoil in Lebanon, anxiety around which had permeated the entire Arab world.
Understandably, concerned with all of these problems, the challenges arising from these developments would have tested the resolve and wisdom of any leader. Needless to point out, he emerged out of the multiple predicaments in the best traditions of great leaders.
It will also be noted that although King Fahd had been rendered physically weak from a massive stroke back in 1995, he continued, as usual, to guide the government all through the subsequent years of crisis from the same thrust of the leadership he had pursued earlier.
This, of course, has special reference to the events taking place in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks on the United States, never losing sight of the traditional role of his country under such disquieting circumstances. Notably, his stand was not different from the one taken by Pakistan, thereby pointing to unanimity in approach of the two countries, as also to the unity of thought and action, which should adequately explain the common pursuit of the two countries in times of peace and turmoil alike.
Perhaps, the greatest challenge he faced in the early period of his rule was in 1990, that is Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. It will be recalled that in reacting to it, he lost no time in welcoming an international coalition, aimed at defending the sovereignty of the tiny state of Kuwait.
That established his vision as statesman. In his death, the Muslim world has lost a friend, a guardian, a leader and a wise man.
For Pakistan, a country, which had enjoyed special relationship with Saudi Arabia, King Fahd not only continued to extend his traditional generosity to it, but also firmly stood by it on the crucial issues of Afghanistan and Kashmir. It will be recalled that King Fahd helped magnanimously to survive the massive economic crunch in the aftermath of global sanctions imposed in the wake of its nuclear explosion in 1998.
That great gesture, along with other earlier demonstrations of abiding brotherly and friendly examples of exemplary relations have always been unmistakable sources of strength to Pakistan. In so far as his motivation for building Saudi Arabia into a nation in accordance with its resources is concerned, it should leave little to doubt in view of the importance he laid on education to start with.
That was how he proceeded with the task with unfailing efforts to education of Saudi children. This, certainly, was one sure way of preparing them to catch up with their counterparts in any of the world's advanced nations. Indeed, he will also appear to have foreseen the compelling demands of coming decades, thereby rejecting the fears of westernisation. It has really paid off as the Saudi youths are making their mettle felt around the world.
It will be recalled that even as crown prince, King Fahd had a passion development of the country, personally overseeing some of its gigantic projects.
The most remarkable, in this regard, was the effort he put in for the expansion of the two Holy Mosques, eventually emerging as their custodian. Mortal as the humans are, he is no more. But he has left legacy that will continue to fire the imagination and approach of his successors for times to come.