Pakistan to play positive role in Saudi-Iran tension: Ahsan

(THE NEWS INTERNATIONAL)Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reforms Ahsan Iqbal on Monday said that Pakistan would play a positive role to end ongoing tension between the brotherly Islamic countries Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Speaking on a point of order in the National Assembly, the minister said that Pakistan was closely monitoring the situation and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz would give a policy statement in this regard.

“There was already unrest in Syria and Iraq and such a conflict should not have occurred between two more Muslim countries,” he added.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Sheikh Aftab Ahmed said the Saudi-Iran tension could have negative impacts in the region, particularly, in Pakistan.

“The government would issue a policy statement after analyzing the situation,” he added.

Earlier, leader of the House Syed Khursheed Shah and members of the National Assembly belonging to different political parties drew the attention of the House towards the ongoing tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia and asked the government to give policy statement and hold a discussion on the matter.

Khursheed Shah said important changes could occur in the region due to the conflicts between Islamic countries. “It was a serious issue as Saudi Arabia housed Haramain Sharifeen.”

He asked the government to brief the House regarding its policy on the issue as the country had also become a part of the 34-member alliance of Muslim countries to counter the militant Daesh group also known as Islamic State group.

Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf s Shah Mehmood Qureshi said being an important country of the Muslim world, Pakistan could play a pivotal role to end the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Pakistan, he said, had brotherly relations with both the countries and the government should adopt a policy on the matter after taking the Parliament into confidence.

Khalid Mehmood Siddiqui of Muttahida Qaumi Movement said conflicts among Muslim countries were increasing day by day, which was a matter of grave concern.

“Pakistan should play its due role to end Saudi-Iran tension,” he added.