Pak Gifted Gold-Plated Assault Rifle To Saudi Crown Prince: Report

In January, Imran Khan had received a gold assault rifle from a Saudi prince. (File)

A gold plated assault rifle was Pakistan's gift to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during his visit to the cash-strapped country last week. It was his first official visit to the country that was facing pressure from various countries following a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama that led to the deaths of 40 CRPF personnel.

A media report said Pakistan's Senate delegation met the Prince and where the chairman of the senate presented him with the unusual gift.

After the attack, India scrapped the Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan. The duty on Pakistani imports has been increased to 200 per cent as retribution.

Pakistan has been isolated internationally as 40 countries have issued statements supporting India. 

Imran Khan had denied Pakistan's role in the attack. "All this 'attack Pakistan' talk is all keeping elections in mind. But if at all these are serious, please make note of one thing clearly - Pakistan will not think of retaliating, it will retaliate," he said.

"There will be no other option left with Pakistan," he added in a video message.

Reviving Pakistan's economy would be the top priority, Imran Khan had said after forming a government last year. The country is seeking financial aid to stablise its economy. It is negotiating with the International Monetary Fund a multi-billion bailout package.

China has also offered financial aid to the country, months after the United States pulled out its financial help over terrorist activities in the country.

The Saudi Crown Prince pledged investments worth 20 billion dollars.

In a similar gesture from the cash-rich kingdom in January, Saudi Prince Fahd Bin Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud, also the Tabuk Governor, presented a gift of ''gold Kalashnikov'' and bullets to Prime Minister Khan at the Prime Minister's Office.

With inputs from PTI