Govt making efforts to reduce Middle East tensions by promoting Saudi-Iran rapprochement: Rana Sanaullah

Says Pakistan has emerged as a symbol of peace and unity in the Muslim world

Prime Minister's Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday said that Pakistan was committed to its agreements with Saudi Arabia and was making efforts to reduce regional tensions by promoting rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Tensions in the Middle East escalated sharply after US and Israeli air strikes last month assassinated Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several senior officials, triggering a wave of retaliation from Tehran and widening the conflict across the region. In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory attacks on US military bases in several Gulf countries, significantly expanding the scope of the confrontation. Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since ​the outbreak of the war on February 28, with targets including US diplomatic missions and military bases but also critical Gulf oil infrastructure, ports, airports, hotels ​and residential and office buildings.

While Saudi Arabia has publicly maintained that it is working with Gulf countries to prevent a military confrontation in the region and has stated it would not participate in any potential war, frustration is growing. On Thursday, the Saudi foreign minister said the kingdom reserved the right to act militarily against Iran and any trust with Tehran has been shattered after Riyadh was targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles.

Iran accused Israel of striking its facilities in the huge South Pars gas field on Wednesday in a major escalation in the US-Israeli war that sent oil prices shooting higher, and retaliated by vowing attacks on oil and gas targets throughout the Gulf, firing missiles at Qatar and Saudi Arabia. In the harshest comments to come out of the Gulf kingdom in nearly three weeks of war, Farhan accused Iran of premeditated hostile actions against its neighbours, both directly and via an array of regional proxies, which he urged Tehran to rein in.

Amid the rising tensions, Pakistan has reiterated its strong strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia while urging restraint to avoid a broader regional conflict. 

Talking to the media after offering Eidul Fitr prayers at his public secretariat today, Sanaullah said Pakistan had strongly condemned the aggression against Iran as well as the attack on its former supreme leader, reiterating full solidarity with the Islamic world.

He said that Pakistan not only stood by Iran but also condemned any aggression against other Muslim countries and reaffirmed its commitment to support them.

Sanaullah said that Pakistan today enjoyed the confidence of Iran, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain.

"Pakistan has emerged as a symbol of peace and unity in the Muslim ummah," he said and termed its role vital for maintaining peace and stability in the region.

However, he said national unity and political stability were imperative to effectively deal with the prevailing internal and external challenges of the country.

Sanaullah said Pakistan was currently confronting multiple challenges on different fronts but was successfully addressing them under the prime minister's leadership, which had further strengthened its position at the international level.

Afghan tensions

Referring to Afghanistan, he said that Pakistan’s stance was very clear as it neither wanted to impose war on Afghanistan nor had any intention of occupying its territory.

“Pakistan only desired that Afghan soil should not be used against any country, particularly against Pakistan, which is in line with international law,” he said and added that tensions between the two countries could end immediately if Afghanistan provided such assurances.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s respect for the Doha Agreement and adherence to international laws.

He said that Operation Ghazab Lil Haq was being carried out purely on intelligence-based information targeting terrorist hideouts.

"The security forces have effectively dismantled several sanctuaries used for training terrorists," Sanaullah added.

The premier's aide said state institutions were fully committed to eradicating terrorism and had achieved significant successes in this regard.