Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif will be embarking on a visit to Saudi Arabia and Iran from Monday to defuse tension between the two countries that spiralled after the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia. He was scheduled to travel to Tehran on a two-day visit from Monday for promoting defence ties between the two countries.
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“Saudi Arabia has regarded Kerry’s cautious outreach to Tehran – and burgeoning relationship with its Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif – with suspicion, and the London visit was created to rebuild trust”, notes AFP.
The tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran spiralled in the wake of various adverse developments including the execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr in Saudi Arabia and subsequently the setting on fire of the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and the Saudi consulate in Mashhad. About lifting of global sanctions on Iran, he said the removal of sanctions would give further boost to economic and trade relationship with other countries, particularly with Pakistan.
PM Sharif would take other Muslim countries into confidence on this issue after visiting Jeddah and Tehran, say the sources.
Without specifically mentioning Iran, Kerry reportedly expressed sympathy over Saudi Arabia’s concerns over the Islamic Republic’s influence in the Arab world, noting that the United States shares Saudi Arabia’s anxieties.
The Pakistani prime minister will be accompanied by his country’s military chief, Gen. Raheel Sharif.
They visited Turkey towards the end of 2013 where the trilateral meeting of Pakistan, Turkey and Afghanistan was held in Ankara under the Istanbul initiative. However, Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) is yet to release official statement about the expected visit of army chief along with Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif till the filing of this report.
Relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran have always been uneasy.
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Saudi Defence Minister said that Pakistan is highly important for Saudi Arabia and it appreciates Pakistan’s efforts for ensuring regional security. Islamabad also committed intelligence sharing and training but said it was neither sending its troops to Saudi Arabia nor has Riyadh made such a request.
