SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)
There is no denying the fact that the security environment in the Middle East and strained relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran are cause of concern for the rulers of the Kingdom. In view of the special relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, consultations between them on such issues are inevitable to say the least. Saudi Arabia has always been extending generous assistance to Pakistan and bailed her out of tight economic situations many a times. The special protocol given to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif by the Saudi leadership is indicative of the strength of the bonds between the two brotherly countries and the personal ties that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has with the Saudi leaders, who hosted him during his exile.
Any role by Pakistan in a situation where we have two Muslim countries flexing their muscles, one of them being our immediate neighbour, needs deep and detached analysis. With all our borders in a state of unease, we cannot afford to open another front at this stage. Pakistan is already passing through a decisive phase in the war against terror, which now requires internal cohesiveness with least distractions. We cannot act in a way that invites more cleavages to develop within our society knowing the delicate sectarian mix in the country. We also need to understand that the days of rent-seeking are over and simmering issues require a far more structured response. Iran has already been engaged by the West through a structured framework on its nuclear programme. There is need to extend the scope of this framework in the coming years to douse the situation in the region. Pakistan, in that context, could play a productive role in bringing the two sides together. We did something like this before during the Rabat summit in 1969 and at the Islamic summit in 1974. We again need to gear our thinking on these lines for stability and peace in the region. The only that Muslims Ummah can stand united is that if Iran and Saudi forget their personal differences and stand united against the common enemy.
pakistan.shafaqna.com
