Defence & Diplomacy: Middle East Crisis & Impact on Pakistan
- 8 years ago
Saudi-Iranian rivalry has once again come to the fore after the Saudis executed Shiah Cleric Sheikh Nimr. Iranians attacked Saudi Embassy in Tehran, while Iran claims that Saudi air attacks in Yemen have also targeted the Iranian Embassy in Sanaa.
Saudi Arabia has snapped diplomatic ties with Iran while a few other gulf countries have followed suit.
The ISIL are likely to gain by this crisis, which needs to be defused. Saudi Foreign Minister is on a two day visit to Islamabad but Pakistan cannot afford to take sides but could offer mediation. The Saudi led 34 nations' coalition also names Pakistan as a member. Pakistan has made it clear that if it is to isolate Iran then Pakistan will have no role to play. If it is to combat the ISIL and terrorism then Pakistan may consider joining it.
Indo-Pak peace talks are again on hold following the terror attack on Indian air base at Pathankot. India has provided leads to Pakistan seeking that Pakistan follow them up within a seventy two hours deadline. This is unrealistic, since India has not even completed the operation against the terrorists, what to talk of the formal investigations. Peace talks cannot be subject to whims and even on jointly targeting terror, they cannot be one sided.
Participant:
Amb Ashraf Jehangir Qazi
Host: S. M. Hali
Saudi Arabia has snapped diplomatic ties with Iran while a few other gulf countries have followed suit.
The ISIL are likely to gain by this crisis, which needs to be defused. Saudi Foreign Minister is on a two day visit to Islamabad but Pakistan cannot afford to take sides but could offer mediation. The Saudi led 34 nations' coalition also names Pakistan as a member. Pakistan has made it clear that if it is to isolate Iran then Pakistan will have no role to play. If it is to combat the ISIL and terrorism then Pakistan may consider joining it.
Indo-Pak peace talks are again on hold following the terror attack on Indian air base at Pathankot. India has provided leads to Pakistan seeking that Pakistan follow them up within a seventy two hours deadline. This is unrealistic, since India has not even completed the operation against the terrorists, what to talk of the formal investigations. Peace talks cannot be subject to whims and even on jointly targeting terror, they cannot be one sided.
Participant:
Amb Ashraf Jehangir Qazi
Host: S. M. Hali