Pakistan Offers to Act as Mediator to Ease Tehran-Riyadh Tensions
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Adviser on National Security and Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, said Islamabad is ready to act as a mediator to ease tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia that escalated after the kingdom's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
“When the right time comes, which may be in a week, a month or later, Pakistan will play a positive role,” Aziz said on Sunday speaking to media during a function at the National College of Arts, Dawn reported.
“We don’t want that some sectarian friction erupts, therefore, whatever will be said or done needs great care,” he said. “We don’t want that terrorist elements take any advantage of the Iran-Saudi Arabia tension.”
The remarks by the Pakistani official came after hundreds of Pakistani protesters took to the streets on Friday and slammed the Saudi regime for killing Sheikh Nimr Baqir al-Nimr.
The Saudi government on January 3 announced that Riyadh was severing its diplomatic relations with Tehran following angry protests in Tehran at the execution of Sheikh Nimr by Riyadh.
Meanwhile, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir Abdollahian said in Tehran's first response that by cutting diplomatic ties, Riyadh could not cover up "its major mistake of executing Sheikh Nimr".
Saudi Arabia’s execution of 47 prisoners, including Sheikh Nimr, drew global condemnation on January 2.
The executions took place in 12 cities in Saudi Arabia, four prisons using firing squads and the others beheading. The bodies were then hanged from gibbets in the most severe form of punishment available in the kingdom's law.
Sheikh Nimr had been detained in July 2012 on charges of delivering anti-regime speeches and defending political prisoners.
In separate protests on Friday, Pakistani people also condemned Islamabad’s decision to join Saudi Arabia's so-called anti-terror coalition after Riyadh's foreign minister ended a two-day visit to the country.
Pakistan announced on Thursday they would join the so-called alliance to fight "terrorism" in the Islamic world, following a meeting between Riyadh's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.
Saudi Arabia announced the coalition last month, naming Pakistan as a member, but Islamabad had initially reacted cautiously saying it needed further details before deciding the extent of its participation.
The decision by the monarchy to form the coalition comes as confirmed reports suggest that the Royal family along with Qatar have been aiding and abetting the Takfiri terrorist groups operating in Iraq and Syria for a long time, providing them with funds and arms via Turkey.