© Handout / Senate of Pakistan
Eschewing the usual artwork and cigars, Pakistani senators gave visiting Saudi dignitary Mohammad bin Salman a gift from the heart: an embossed golden Heckler & Koch MP5.
What do you get for a guy who has everything, and whose country has recently been implicated in the murder of a prominent dissident journalist?
Pakistani senators had a perfect answer when the Saudi prince, widely known by the moniker MBS, visited on Monday, giving him both the ostentatious firearm and a portrait of himself.
The German-engineered firearm is the gift that keeps on giving at 650 rounds per minute, complete with elaborate designs engraved into its gold components.
Islamabad spared no expense welcoming the prince, closing down schools, government institutions and the capital’s airspace, alongside an elaborate formal ceremony.
MBS’ stop in Pakistan was the first along his tour of Asia which will also include India and China as Saudi Arabia tries to improve its image after a rough year for the country’s PR.
Social media reaction to Pakistan’s gift were fittingly harsh.
Given the scandal over Jamal Khashoggi, inviting comparison to a Bond villain may not have been the best move in terms of Saudi Arabia’s rebranding efforts.
Opinions were also split about the gun itself, some feeling it was perfectly suited to the prince’s needs, while others advised Islamabad on more fitting alternatives.
