Pakistan PM criticized for ‘insulting’ encounter with Saudi Arabia’s King Salman

Imran Khan was filmed walking the elaborate red carpet to meet King Salman, following a brief handshake and greeting.

Marriott CEO says success isn’t guaranteed, but optimistic on balance in KSA

Vast wealth and the promise of dramatic change make for cautious optimism concerning Saudi Arabia, the chief executive…

515 Views | the publication reaches you by | Saudi Arabia Today

However, it appeared from the footage that the Pakistani PM spoke directly to the monarch’s translator rather than addressing the royal himself.

Khan can be seen pointing and gesticulating as he speaks to the translator before walking away, apparently without giving King Salman the opportunity to respond.

Social media users took to Twitter to express their fury over the “disrespectful” and “insulting” encounter, with some calling for Pakistan to prioritize diplomacy skills when next choosing their leader.

Claims on Twitter that bilateral meetings between the leaders were canceled as a result of the monarch’s displeasure at the odd greeting appear unfounded, however, as Khan later met with the king and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud before delivering an address at the summit.

He criticized some Western states for their Islamophobia and called on them to “differentiate between moderate Muslims and extremist Muslims,” Dawn reports.