Washington, Nov 15: Saudi Arabia supplies free oil to Pakistan, the Congressional Research Service which advises Congress on strategic issues has been quoted by media reports as saying. It does not say how much oil the Saudis supply to Pakistan and whether there is anything in return that Pakistan has done or is expected to do.
The paper points out that Pakistan has extensive energy resources, including fairly sizable natural gas reserves, some proven oil reserves, coal and large hydropower potential.
However, the exploitation of energy resources has been slow due to a shortage of capital and domestic and international political constraints.
Domestic petroleum production totals only about half the country's oil needs.
The paper says that Pakistan has the world's eighth largest armed forces, all of whom are well-trained and disciplined. However, it says, budget constraints and nation-building duties have reduced Pakistan's normal robust training tempo, which, if not reversed, will eventually impact on the operational readiness of the armed forces.
"Likewise, Pakistan has had an increasingly difficult time maintaining their aging fleet of US, Chinese, UK and French equipment," it added.
Pakistan, it notes, historically has provided military personnel to strengthen Gulf-state defences and to reinforce its own security interests in the area. Bureau Report