Pakistan

Khar’s visit to KSA: Pakistan makes progress in defusing Saudi-Iran tension

Islamabad took the initiative after both countries sought its help as mediator.

Qaiser Butt April 29, 2011

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has made considerable progress in its bid to defuse tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran which followed the uprisings against Gulf regimes, The Express Tribune has learnt.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia was designed to mediate between the two countries. Strained relations between them touched their lowest ebb after Riyadh accused Tehran of instigating demonstrations in Bahrain and interfering in Arab countries’ internal affairs.

The Saudi foreign minister expressed support for Pakistan’s efforts in promoting peace and stability in the region during his talks with Khar, media reports said. However, Saudi Arabia did ask Pakistan to use its influence over Iran to persuade it to avoid interfering in Arab countries’ affairs.

Riyadh’s positive response came after Khar had extensive discussions with key Saudi leaders including Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal, Secretary-General of the National Security Council Prince Bandar Bin Sultan and Saudi Interior Minister Mohammad Bin Naif.

Islamabad took the initiative after Tehran expressed its desire to improve relations with Saudi Arabia that have worsened after Riyadh sent troops to Bahrain to help Manama curb bloody demonstrations.

Iran’s stance was communicated to Pakistan on April 20 when Interior Minister Rehman Malik had a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi. Malik, who went to Tehran as a special envoy of President Asif Ali Zardari, also met Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and delivered President Zardari’s message.

Last month, Prince Bandar had also visited Islamabad as a special emissary of King Abdullah to seek Pakistan’s help in overcoming the violent situation in Bahrain. His visit to Islamabad was followed by trips of delegates from Bahrain and the UAE.

Pakistan has assured Riyadh and Tehran that it will continue to contribute to the normalisation of their ties.

Upon her return, Khar said that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to work towards harnessing harmony and unity in the Muslim world while Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani directed the ministry of foreign affairs to ensure a detailed follow-up on the understanding reached between Islamabad and Riyadh.

Khar told the prime minister that during her meetings with Saudi officials, it was agreed that an institutional mechanism will be established to promote cooperation and collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the fields of investment, finance, trade, defence and export of manpower from Pakistan.

Khar also met Saudi Finance Minister Dr Hamad bin Sulaiman and discussed cooperation in economic areas and means of bolstering economic ties.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2011.

COMMENTS (8)

Talha | 12 years ago | Reply Pakistan should never take sides in Saudi-Iran Dispute. Pakistan is neither a wahabi Kingdom or a Shia Maulvi Government. Pakistan should instead get both sides to compete with each other to get favours from Pakistan.get GCC to sign a good FTA more generous that the one we singed with China, if GCC cannot we sign deal with Iran. Also Fauji foundation should remain netral and not help recruit ex soliders.

Ali | 12 years ago | Reply @Agnostic Muslim and others: Please stop fooling yourself and other intelligent Pakistanis... Wake up for God's sake! mer·ce·nar·y 1. Motivated solely by a desire for monetary or material gain. 2. Hired for service in a foreign army. n. pl. mer·ce·nar·ies 1. One who serves or works merely for monetary gain; a hireling. 2. A professional soldier hired for service in a foreign army. I think the Pakistanis who go there for these jobs fit the definition of mercenary perfectly. They might not even realise it of course, but in today's world it's hard for an educated and informed person not to realise this sad fact. It's a sin if they realize it and still go.. Ok so there's no official government sponsored 'Pakistan Mercenary Force', but what do you call Fauji Foundation then, which is recruiting ex-soldiers for Bahrain and other Gulf states. Doesn't it come close to what Blackwater is doing. And yes this is not a new phenomenon, glad you mentioned that, as it only exposes the evil further. The Bahraini dictatorship keeps on importing foreigners 'with certain specifics' into their security forces and military - and then gives them citizenship!! WHY?? WHY foreigners?? Can't Bahraini citizens do the same jobs in their own country?? The answer is obvious. These cowardly rulers will never hand weapons to the the people they have oppressed for more than 200 years. They have had colonial puppetmasters Britain, and now USA, pulling the strings and advising them on all these matters. Remember 'divide and rule'? The sectarian card is being played again and again to divide muslims. And it is this poisonous venom instilled in the fangs of the these mercenaries, who are killing and oppressing their brethern with such barbaric inhumanity. Each time a soldier kills one protestor, he kills all humanity. If soldiers were from the indigenous population, they would never do the things that these mercenaries (helped with Saudi and other GCC troops) have done to the Bahraini people. Even in Egypt, the army was reluctant to do the sort of things that are happening in Bahrain. As for these Pak-Saudi ties, it is utterly shameful to have any ties at all with that regime. A regime so drowned in hypocrisy and gluttony, everybody knows they have nothing to do with Islamic moral values. Their arrogance knows no bounds, they even named the holy land after themselves! And the king, the so called 'custodian of the holy mosques' has his name inscribed on the kiswah of the Holy Kaabah! I can't think of anything more revolting. So we can either keep living in a fantasy world, or wake up and do our bit to bring justice to the earth. You could at least start with our own country. Speak out against our own corrupt rulers. Speak out against sectarianism. Speak out against allowing mercenaries to go and serve in these 'imperial petrol stations'. Protest against the drone attacks. Get registered to vote for the next election. Vote for anyone but the same old people!!! (=PTI)! Protest if the elections are rigged again! Just don't say or do anything that justifies or defends any kind of zulm/ oppression. Unless we help ourselves, and make drastic changes to the way we think and act, we are doomed - this is God's promise. (p.s. nothing personal - just some brotherly advice)

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Agnostic Muslim | 12 years ago | Reply @John: We have no 'mercenary force' in Bahrain. Read up on the Conventions defining 'mercenary'. Pakistanis have been hired to work in the security services and military of Bahrain for years - it is not a recent event tied into the protests. Many of them have been made citizens. The conventions clearly state that individuals employed in the security forces/military of a party to a conflict are not 'mercenaries', even if they are foreign nationals. 'Blackwater', and other companies, employing contractors for security, intelligence or other operations in another nation are 'mercenaries', since they are not part of the military or security forces of any party involved in a conflict. AFAIK, there are no private contractors in Bahrain hiring Pakistanis or other foreign nationals to suppress protests - all hiring is done through the government, utilizing the same channels that have existed for years, and all hiring so far is into the security forces and military.

Saeed Irfan | 12 years ago | Reply Hoorah to Pakistan for atleast doing something right. Though Pakistan has a vital role to play in international politics by such high profile diplomacy but it must be kept in mind that the actual issues are deeper than to be solved by just a diplomatic meeting. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain GCC etc have become American military garrisons and it is natural that Iran would feel unsafe. Unless these countries do not start to be sovereign instead of being puppets then I think that even Pakistan can not do anything for them. Currently all the equipments, drones and rockets are being shipped from Bahrain the home of US navy fifth fleet to be used on Pakistan. Even the command center for all American operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan is in Qatar. Saudi Arabia is funding all this, so amidst these, it is natural for other countries to feel uneasy about intentions of countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain.

Ahmed | 12 years ago | Reply @John: why don't we suggest americans and weteren powers to stop invading each and every part of the world behaving like gods of the world, especially with mushlim countries.

Rao Qasim | 12 years ago | Reply We are poor. We are broke but we still lead and show the strength of our diplomacy. Whether it be rights of palestinians in UN or organization od islamic countries, peace negotiations in Afghanistan or diplomatic relations between China and America. Pakistan;s performance has been par excellence. Pakistan Zinda bad

hesam | 12 years ago | Reply If you want to be honest about the most important issue this country Bahrain friendship with America. Bahrain's oil and also a naval base making interest and friendship with America. If half of these killings and repression happen in a country like Iran or Syria : Western human rights and democracy sounds reached to sky

John | 12 years ago | Reply "Pakistan makes progress in Saudi-Iran tension"- by pulling its mercenary force from Bahrain.

Replying to X