Pakistan’s mediatory role between KSA, Iran lauded

ISLAMABAD: Irrespective of the final outcome of unique whirlwind visit of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif to Riyadh and Tehran, Saudi Arabia and Iran have broadly lauded the mediatory efforts by Pakistan.

At home the peace initiative has also been universally acclaimed and no dissenting voice has emerged from anywhere. The general criticism that Nawaz Sharif’s detractors usually shower on him for paying too many foreign visits is also missing this time. General Raheel Sharif’s participation in the compact delegation apparently left a soothing effect on these elements.

The visit became momentous and weighty due to the participation of the prime minister and the army chief. It was further reinforced by total national consensus prevailing in Pakistan on ending rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran. People here are worried and concerned over the severing of relations between the two countries. This was one of the rare occasions when the Pakistanis joined voice.

If the present visit at least makes even a small beginning towards icebreaking between Riyadh and Tehran, it would be a great achievement. Even before the current snapping of ties, Saudi Arabia and Iran are not known to have excellent relations any time in the near future.

The Sharifs’ trip materialized only after the two countries agreed to it and showed some kind of flexibility. They accepted Pakistan’s mission to bring about reconciliation. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud “appreciated the initiative of the Pakistani leadership”, according to the official statement on the visit.

Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan separately praised the role Pakistan is playing for defusing tensions between Riyadh and Tehran. He termed Nawaz Sharif’s sojourn in Iran as very important and expressed the hope that his meeting with the Iranian President will be fruitful.

Jamiate Ulemae Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has stated that the mediatory efforts of the two Sharifs are valuable. “Tensions between Riyadh and Iran are negatively impacting the unity within the Muslim Ummah.”

Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party chief Mehmood Achakzai echoed similar thoughts and said the Muslim Ummah could dismember due to the gross differences between Riyadh and Tehran.

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Sirajul Haq and some other political figures said that the Sharifs’ visit was timely and would help reduce confrontation between Saudi Arabia and Iran. They said the daring trip would infuse unity in the Muslim Ummah and would produce positive results.

During the Sharifs’ visit to Riyadh the discussions focused not only on finishing the Saudi Arabia-Iran confrontation but also on the bilateral relations in the fields of defence, security, economic and commercial spheres. Collaboration was also deliberated upon under the 34-nation counterterrorism coalition.

Pakistan’s active participation in the alliance announced by Saudi Arabia came under active discussion. Views were exchanged on fighting terrorism and extremism. It was agreed that both countries would work together to defeat the common enemy- terrorism and extremism.

The prime minister reiterated the pledge to stand with the people of Saudi Arabia against any threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.