Iranian-Saudi faceoff

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Pakistan should not be seen as a partisan to the conflict

Verbal offensive and proxy attacks between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been replaced by a bitter standoff. There are signs indicating that the confrontation may not remain confined to the diplomatic breakup alone. The unwise decision by Riyadh to execute a Saudi Shiite cleric whose only crime was that he supported democracy and the right for everyone to practise his faith, has led to protests in a number of countries starting with Iran where protesters attacked Saudi embassy. In Iraq a rocket was fired on the Kingdom’s embassy. Questions are being asked if the diplomatic war of words will boil over. Fears are also being expressed of something much more serious being in the offing.

To start with, the possibility of a diplomatic solution to Syrian crisis which many thought would be found in a few months has receded into distance beyond horizon. Iran and Saudi Arabia were already on opposite sides of conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain and Lebanon. There is a likelihood of their coming into direct conflict in Gulf countries like Iraq. In case this happens, it would provide an opportunity to the terrorist networks like Daesh to flourish.

Pakistan has a sizeable presence of the Shia community which is closely integrated in society and is duly represented in state institutions including judiciary, civil service and army. The execution of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr has led to protests from the community in a number of cities in Pakistan. The protesters however remained peaceful and orderly. Pakistan has friendly relations with both Saudi Arabia and Iran. It cannot afford to be seen as a partisan in the dispute. Becoming a part of the Saudi-led military alliance set up only weeks before the execution of Sheikh Nimr would be widely interpreted as supporting the Saudi government against Iran. The PML-N administration is required to play a balancing act. It has to discourage a proxy war in Pakistan. What is more, it should play the role of a mediator between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

10 COMMENTS

  1. Iran killed 400000 sunnis in syria started from Daraa in syria in march 2011 when sunni majority protests started long before creation of ISIS in 2014. Iran does not care Pakistani and its sunni majority and sends army to yemen,iraq,syria and kills sunnis. Pakistan on the other hand fears Iran and even cannot condemn 50000 children by bashar assad and Irani army. Pakistan cannot do anything.It is fearful of Iran. Do not worry. Pakistan will only watch even if millions of syrian sunni are killed by iran in syria. It cannot even condemn. Pakistan care 5% shia brothers. Iran is free to kill as much sunnis as it likes in syria,iraq etc

    • Muhammad shoaib either you are dumb or you are a troll. Iran never killed anyone, isis was created by western Zionist to land grab Syria for great Israel kindly do not bring Sunnis Shi’a card into this matter. Henry Kissinger write in 1982 about the 100 year war in the middle east these people just want the whole region destabilised.LONG LIVE PUTIN RUSSIA AND CHINA!!!

      • Afghanistan was a sunni state and iraq was ruled by sunni. Zionist removed both sunni governments of iraq and afghanistan to secure border of iran because minority Iran is used by west to secure weapons deal and cheap oil from all sunni gulf countries. There was no sunni shia divide in 19th century before 1979 shia iran revolution. In words Iran destroyed zionist israel and USA many times and USA destroyed Iran many times but in words only. If Zionist decides then USA has huge weapons of mass destruction that Iran like 1000 countries can be wiped out of world map thousands times. It is IRAN-WEST drama going on. USA can eliminate Sadam in 5 days while that Sadam remain undefeated for 10 years during IRAN-IRAQ war but USA finished him in 5 days. West intentionally avoid attacking iran

  2. Thank you for this nice editorial. I am not a scholar but almost every one knows there is no justice in this kingdom. Unfortunately Saudi Arabia is ruled by a vey ruthless, and arrogant clan.

  3. Bush Sr (author of New World Order) should the most happy man with this latest Sunni Shia divide. During the occupation of Iraq for 14 long years, the USA and Allied did everything possible to make it a permanent line between these two sects. And it has worked well for their satisfaction. Even after their withdrawal, they ensured that the sparks spread in the whole area and it did. They did not supply War planes and sophisticated weapons to Saudi Arabia and UAE for nothing. On the one hand feeding their Weapon producing factories and encouraging SA to invade Iran supported Yemen on the other, like they did to Iraq to invade Kuwait. They will suck the remaining Oil money of these stupid Sheikhs.

    • Afghanistan was a sunni state and iraq was ruled by sunni. Zionist removed both sunni governments of iraq and afghanistan to secure border of iran because minority Iran is used by west to secure weapons deal and cheap oil from all sunni gulf countries. There was no sunni shia divide in 19th century before 1979 shia iran revolution. In words Iran destroyed zionist israel and USA many times and USA destroyed Iran many times but in words only. If Zionist decides then USA has huge weapons of mass destruction that Iran like 1000 countries can be wiped out of world map thousands times. It is IRAN-WEST drama going on. USA can eliminate Sadam in 5 days while that Sadam remain undefeated for 10 years during IRAN-IRAQ war but USA finished him in 5 days. West intentionally avoid attacking iran because it does not want remove traitor of islamic world

  4. Afghanistan was a sunni state and iraq was ruled by sunni. Zionist removed both sunni governments of iraq and afghanistan to secure border of iran because minority Iran is used by west to secure weapons deal and cheap oil from all sunni gulf countries. There was no sunni shia divide in 19th century before 1979 shia iran revolution. In words Iran destroyed zionist israel and USA many times and USA destroyed Iran many times but in words only. If Zionist decides then USA has huge weapons of mass destruction that Iran like 1000 countries can be wiped out of world map thousands times. It is IRAN-WEST drama going on. USA can eliminate Sadam in 5 days while that Sadam remain undefeated for 10 years during IRAN-IRAQ war but USA finished him in 5 days. West intentionally avoid attacking iran. Understand minority is alwas used to control majority. Iran is pawn of west to control 55 islamic countries

  5. it’s too really to coment,but please never blame others for your own negligence and incompetence to deliver. Pakistan Insh Allah will remain neutral and play mediator role to release the tension.

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