TEHRAN: Describing Pakistan’s efforts for de-escalation of tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran as a “sacred mission”, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday said he was encouraged by the “positive response” from the leadership of the two brotherly countries.
“We got positive response from the leadership of two countries, who were appreciative of Pakistan’s initiative and efforts,” Prime Minister Nawaz told Pakistani media here before leaving for Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum. The prime minister had arrived in the Iranian capital from Saudi Arabia earlier on Tuesday after meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. He met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and exchanged views on the situation in the region including the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Prime Minister Nawaz was accompanied by Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and his Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi during the two-nation visit, which was aimed at easing tension between Riyadh and Tehran. Nawaz told newsmen that Pakistan had proposed to the Iranian leadership to appoint a focal person on the Saudi-Iran issue, and he would also talk to Saudi Arabia to appoint their focal person. He said Pakistan would also appoint a focal person on the issue so that it could interact with the two brotherly countries through their focal persons to take this process forward.
The prime minister said he was very satisfied with his visit to Saudi Arabia and Iran, adding Pakistan was making sincere efforts for de-escalation of tension between the two brotherly countries with which it enjoyed close, historic and brotherly ties. To a question, the prime minister said Pakistan was not acting at anyone’s behest rather it was its own initiative to de-escalate tension between the two countries. He referred to Quranic verses which commanded that whenever there is a dispute between two Muslim brothers, it was the duty of other Muslims to help reconcile between them.
He said Pakistan was fulfilling its duty of easing tension between the two Muslim countries. The prime minister recalled that during his second tenure in power, Pakistan had played its role for facilitating a meeting between King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia and President Hashmi Rafsanjani of Iran during OIC Summit in Islamabad in 1997, which led to easing of tension between the two countries at that time. He said it was a matter of pride that Pakistan once again was playing a mediatory role between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
About his meetings with the Saudi king and the Iranian president, the prime minister said the Saudi leadership was desirous of having good relations with all countries, including Iran, adding that the Iranian leadership also expressed similar views and appreciated Pakistan’s role in this respect. To a question, the prime minister said as the Muslim world was facing the challenges of extremism and terrorism, there was a need to fight and defeat this “big enemy” through unity and solidarity.
Prime Minister Nawaz and King Salman exchanged views on various facets of enduring cooperation with regard to Saudi initiative of formation of the coalition of Islamic countries against terrorism. The prime minister reiterated that “the people of Pakistan would always stand with the people of Saudi Arabia against any threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.” The civil and military leadership held a consultative meeting in the plane to Tehran from Riyadh to discuss affairs to ease tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
During the flight from Riyadh to Tehran, the prime minister also held a consultative meeting with General Raheel Sharif and other officials on Pakistan-Iran relations. The meeting also discussed talks with Saudi leadership in connection with Saudi Iranian stand-off. After the consultative meeting the two had a one-on-one meeting. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Saudi Arabia and Iran do not consider each other enemies. “Both nations are against hostility and conflict,” he said adding that “there exist some misunderstandings and issues which needed to be resolved through bilateral consultation in a peaceful manner.
DAILY TIMES.
YEMI.
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