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Saudi Arabia reported to ask Pakistan Government to mediate with Iran

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https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019...steps-indirect-talks-nyt-191005171357718.html

Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken steps toward indirect talks to defuse tensions in the Middle East, with Riyadh requesting Iraq and Pakistan to speak with the Iranian leadership about de-escalation, according to the New York Times.

In a report on Saturday, the Times said Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) asked the leaders of Iraq and Pakistan to intervene in the wake of the attacks on two Saudi oil facilities on September 14. The United States and Saudi Arabia blamed their arch-foe Iran for the attacks, which knocked out five percent of the global crude supply, despite Yemen's Houthi rebels claiming responsibility for them.

But the Times reported that US President Donald Trump's refusal to order a military response "raised questions for the Saudis about the American commitment to Saudi security, which has underpinned the strategic layout of the Persian Gulf for decades".

The US's lack of action "prompted Saudi Arabia to seek its own solution to the conflict," it added.

The Saudi government told the Times that Baghdad and Islamabad had offered to mediate talks, but denied the move was at MBS' request.

Tehran has meanwhile said it is open to hold talks with Riyadh.

"Iran is open to starting a dialogue with Saudi Arabia and other countries in the region," Ali Larijani, the speaker of Iran's parliament, told Al Jazeera in an interview broadcast last week.

"An Iranian-Saudi dialogue could solve many of the region's security and political problems," he added.


The Times, citing unnamed Iraqi and Pakistani officials, said MBS asked Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan to mediate during a meeting in Jeddah last month. Khan's two-day visit ran from September 19 to 20. The crown prince told Khan "I want to avoid war", the senior Pakistani official told the Times. Afterwards, Khan spoke to Iran's President Hassan Rouhani at the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

When Iraq's Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi visited Jeddah on September 25, MBS made the same request, according to a senior Iraqi official who spoke to the Times on the condition of anonymity. The official said Iraq had suggested its capital, Baghdad, as the venue for a potential meeting between Saudi and Iranian leaders.

Saudi Arabia and Iran have taken opposing sides on various conflicts in the Middle East, including the wars in Yemen and Syria. Riyadh has also backed Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Iran, in which the US leader imposed punishing sanctions against Tehran after Washington abandoned a landmark deal that curbed Tehran's nuclear programme.

Analysts told the Times that any reconciliation between the two regional powers would have far-reaching consequences, particularly on Trump's efforts to isolate Iran.

Rouhani turned down a meeting with Trump at the UNGA, ruling out any talks between the two countries until Washington lifted its sanctions. He also invited regional countries to join a "coalition for hope", which he said would pledge non-aggression and non-interference in one another's affairs.

Abdul Mahdi told Al Jazeera last week that he believes Saudi Arabia is looking to de-escalate tensions with its arch foe.

"Nobody possesses the weapons necessary to deal their adversary a fatal blow. Chaos and destruction will hit the region in its entirety," he said.

"Everybody is open to dialogue," the Iraqi prime minister said. "Iran says [it is] willing to negotiate if sanctions are lifted; the US [also] asks for dialogue ... neither does Saudi Arabia close the door for dialogue."

"There are many countries, and Iraq is one of them, that can offer a solution or a place for a solution to be found."
What a humiliation for MBS. After years of trying to "cut the head of the snake", he finally realises he cannot deliver on his hawkish boasts to destroy Iran and appears to understand there's no military solution.

Pakistan should play whatever constructive role it can to bring about dialogue.
 
What a humiliation for MBS. After years of trying to "cut the head of the snake", he finally realises he cannot deliver on his hawkish boasts to destroy Iran and appears to understand there's no military solution.

Pakistan should play whatever constructive role it can to bring about dialogue.

Hes only been in power for 2 years and was continuing the previous policies towards Iran. Its good he has woken up to realise attacking Iran would be suicide for SA esp with him trying to bring holiday makers, new events etc. Hopefully Pakistan can help with some sort of peace deal but will annoy the Israelis.
 
Hes only been in power for 2 years and was continuing the previous policies towards Iran. Its good he has woken up to realise attacking Iran would be suicide for SA esp with him trying to bring holiday makers, new events etc. Hopefully Pakistan can help with some sort of peace deal but will annoy the Israelis.
That's what MBS is saying publicly but what he really means is: I failed in all my strategic objectives against Iran in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Qatar and Yemen (the Saudi Vietnam), Houthis bombed our oil facility in the heart of the country but I couldn't lift a finger, so now I am begging Iranians for talks.

He's been Defence Minister since 2015 and took personal command of the Yemen campaign (read genocide). Yet these Houthis are still there despite Saudis having access to billion dollar Western weaponry. This is a total humiliation for Saudis.

This is what happens when you inherit leadership through zero merit or work of your own, but because you were lucky enough to be born into wealth.

It's astonishing how the anti-Iran alliance has collapsed. UAE have already cut their deal with Iran, while Trump Admin has its own internal issues and won't start a war before reelection campaign, and Netanyahu is facing prison having lost his election. Allah is the best of planners !
 
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019...steps-indirect-talks-nyt-191005171357718.html


What a humiliation for MBS. After years of trying to "cut the head of the snake", he finally realises he cannot deliver on his hawkish boasts to destroy Iran and appears to understand there's no military solution.

Pakistan should play whatever constructive role it can to bring about dialogue.

It's not so much a humiliation as a realisation that he's been played by the US. He listened to Donald Trump who was enlisted as President because he knew the art of the deal.

Same happened with Pakistan in previous wars with India. They were fooled into believing USA was an ally when if fact they were just being used for US purposes.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a>'s foreign ministry spokesman Mousavi says that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a> prime minister <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a>'s visit to Tehran will take place tomorrow on Sunday & he will meet Iranian president and the leader as well.</p>— Abas Aslani (@AbasAslani) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbasAslani/status/1183010083174793216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2019</a></blockquote>
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If IK can help to get these 2 countries to avoid a catastrophic war, then this will be his greatest achievement.
 
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The west will not allow peace to prevail between the Saudi's and Iran. Saudi's inviting the American's in their kingdom yet wanting peace with Iran does not stick with me. They don't realise that the American's are eventually gonna hammer them.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Prime Minister <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> arrives in Tehran as a part of his initiative to promote peace and security in the region. Prime Minister Imran Khan held a meeting with Foreign Minister of Iran Mr. Javad Zarif <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Pakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Pakistan</a>&#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iran?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iran</a>&#55356;&#56814;&#55356;&#56823; <a href="https://t.co/Ae947yQ5ye">pic.twitter.com/Ae947yQ5ye</a></p>— PTI (@PTIofficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/PTIofficial/status/1183314872391614464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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What an amazing effort. Not sure why the anti IK forces on this forum for once not comment on such threads.
 
The west will not allow peace to prevail between the Saudi's and Iran. Saudi's inviting the American's in their kingdom yet wanting peace with Iran does not stick with me. They don't realise that the American's are eventually gonna hammer them.

The West is not the master of all its surveys, Although they get their way most of the time. The fight between Iran and Saudi is like most wars, is an ego fight with other toxic variables mixed in, none of which are natural and can be sorted by people of imaan.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Joint Press Conference by Prime Minister Imran Khan and President of Iran Hassan Rouhani.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PMIKForPeace?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PMIKForPeace</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D8%B1%DB%81%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA_%D8%B9%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86_%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#رہبرامت_عمران_خان</a> <a href="https://t.co/9oDmhSSQrX">https://t.co/9oDmhSSQrX</a></p>— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) <a href="https://twitter.com/pid_gov/status/1183326128041123842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 13, 2019</a></blockquote>
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If IK can successfully arbitrate Taliban-US and Iran-KSA negotiations, it will be a huge achievement for his foreign policy and will send a positive image to the world, which we desperately need.
 
Khan's foreign policy has been exceptional but his policies at home have been irresponsible, naive and at worse, dangerous.
 
Khan's foreign policy has been exceptional but his policies at home have been irresponsible, naive and at worse, dangerous.

Yes the critics are saying it’s burning at home and he is trying to control the fire abroad.

But let’s hope and pray he can sort out the issues domestically as well. It will help if Maulana and co drop the darna. That could just worsen the situation.
 
Yes the critics are saying it’s burning at home and he is trying to control the fire abroad.

But let’s hope and pray he can sort out the issues domestically as well. It will help if Maulana and co drop the darna. That could just worsen the situation.

I think he sees what impact war between Iran and Saudi would have on the oil prices and developing countries who rely on cheap oil. I think what he is trying to do is look after his own interest as well as improve Pakistans image and brand as a liberal peaceful nation.
 
Ever since Iran conflict started escalating once Obama left white house the oil prices have increased from a low of $30 per barrel to now over $60 per barrel. It makes one wonder if this is all being done to keep oil prices high so western oil companies and other non Iranian companies can profit.
 
Welcome peace gesture by Pakistan, says President Rouhani alongside PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran during his one-day official trip, with both the leaders emphasising on the need for peace in the region.

"I told Prime Minster Imran we welcome any gesture by Pakistan for peace in the region and appreciate his visit to our country," said Rouhani at a joint press conference with the premier.

Rouhani said that the two leaders had discussed, among other things, the war in Yemen and the sanctions by the United States on Iran.

"Regional issues have to be resolved through regional means and dialogue. We also emphasised that any goodwill gesture will be responded with a goodwill gesture and good words," said the Iranian president.

"We also discussed how the nuclear deal could be restored," added Rouhani.

Rouhani also warned that Iran would respond to any threats, saying it was a “big mistake” to think it wouldn’t do so, according to the Associated Press.

Prime Minister Imran thanked Rouhani for speaking up for the people of occupied Kashmir at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the two leaders also held a meeting on the sidelines.

"Mr President, the main reason I came here with my delegation is that we don't want conflict in the region. Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties in the last 15 years in the 'war on terror', Afghanistan is still suffering, [there is ] terrible devastation in Syria — we don't want another conflict in this part of the world," said Imran.

"Mr President, we have Iran as a neighbour, our ties with Iran go way back. Saudi Arabia has been one of our closest friends. Saudi Arabia has helped us when we have needed, when we have been in need and so the reason for this trip was that we don't want a conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"We recognise that it is a complex issue but we feel that it can be resolved through dialogue. What should never happen is a war between Saudi Arabia and Iran because this will not just affect this whole region — two brotherly countries will be affected — this will cause poverty in the world. Oil prices will go up.

"There is vested interest behind this conflict," added the premier.

Speaking about his visit to Iran and upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, he said it was Pakistan's own initiative, saying he felt encouraged after his meeting with Rouhani.

"I will go to Saudi Arabia with a positive mind. We would like to play the role of a facilitator and not mediator. We want to facilitate two brotherly Islamic countries.

"It is a complex situation but it can be resolved.

"We also discussed how the nuclear deal could be restored. When we were in New York, US President Donald Trump asked us to facilitate some sort of dialogue with Iran and the US," said the prime minister, adding that Pakistan was aware of the difficulties.

PM Imran calls on supreme leader
Later in the day, Prime Minister Imran called on Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

The prime minister thanked the supreme leader for support to the people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir for their right of self-determination.

He said that Muslim ummah faces numerous challenges internally and from the outside. "It is important to articulate a message of unity and solidarity among the Muslim nations," the premier added.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office on the Tehran visit, the premier during his meeting with Khamenei "reaffirmed his resolve to comprehensively upgrade Pakistan-Iran relations".

"He also apprised the Supreme Leader of his initiative for regional peace and security," the statement added.

Meeting with Rouhani
In his meeting with the Iranian president, the prime minister "highlighted the historic ties and the tradition of close cooperation between the two countries", said the Prime Minister's Office.

The premier voiced his commitment to further strengthen ties between the two countries in diverse areas, "with a particular focus on enhanced trade and economic cooperation".

"Close cooperative ties with Iran have always been a priority for Pakistan," the statement quoted the prime minister as saying.

While discussing the security situation in the region, the prime minister underscored the need for "avoidance of military conflict and constructive engagement of all parties".

Pakistan's readiness to "extend full facilitation of efforts for de-escalation of tensions and resolution of differences and disputes through political and diplomatic means" was also conveyed by the premier to the Iranian president.

Arrival in Tehran
Earlier, both leaders held "wide-ranging consultations" during the meeting, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's official Twitter account said.

"Pakistan attaches high importance to bilateral ties with Iran," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the PTI. "Pakistan is willing to play its role towards strengthening peace and stability in the region."

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and other officials were also present during the meeting.

The prime minsiter also held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who had received the premier upon arrival.

The Foreign Office, in a statement issued on Saturday, said that Prime Minister Imran was undertaking the visit to Tehran "as part of his initiative to promote peace and security in the region".

This is Prime Minister Imran's second visit to Iran this year. In April, he undertook a two-day official trip on President Rouhani's invitation.

PM's 'initiative' for peace
Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have worsened in the aftermath of an attack on the world's biggest crude oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia on September 14. Saudi Arabia blamed the attack on Tehran but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in an interview with CBS program "60 Minutes", had said that a war with Iran will be catastrophic for the global economy.

The New York Times and certain other media organisations had earlier claimed that Saudi crown prince had requested Prime Minister Imran to mediate between his country and Iran to stave off war.

The premier had also said in a press conference in New York on September 24 that US President Donald Trump had asked him to help in defusing tensions and he immediately went to meet President Rouhani on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly's 74th session last month.

However, the FO in a statement on Saturday credited the prime minister for the peace initiative. It said: “The initiative for possibility of dialogue between KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] and Iran, the two brotherly countries of Pakistan, is an effort by the prime minister of Pakistan for ensuring peace in the region.”

The statement denied that the crown prince had delivered a message for the Iranian leaders or even asked Prime Minister Imran to play a mediatory role with Iran.

Iran, meanwhile, said it was open to any mediation or direct talks with Saudi Arabia.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, in an interview with TRT while talking about the prime minister's initiative, said: “We’ve never rejected any intermediary [...] We’ve always been open to mediation, and we’ve always been open to direct talks with our Saudi neighbours.”

Emphasising the importance of dialogue for resolving outstanding issues, he said, “We don’t have any choice but to talk to each other.”

https://www.dawn.com/news/1510619/w...tan-says-president-rouhani-alongside-pm-imran
 
Elaborate rather than just make sweeping statements.

Cuts to healthcare and almost all other public services, a drop in wages, national debt and extremely high levels of inflation. All this is known as austerity and is designed to hit the poorest the hardest, the very same people Khan appealed to in his election pledges.
 
Cuts to healthcare and almost all other public services, a drop in wages, national debt and extremely high levels of inflation. All this is known as austerity and is designed to hit the poorest the hardest, the very same people Khan appealed to in his election pledges.

But how are they irresponsible, naive and dangerous when the cost of not doing them is a default. Do you think he wanted to go the IMF or cut expenditure so that he could hurt his own supporters. The easier option would have been the Noora option, which is to hide the true extent and then wait for someone else to take the blame. As you will know PK had over inflated Rupee which subsidised Imports and made Exports uncompetitive, the rupee was artificially inflated by using up Dollar reserves, but when he took over, we had none and something had to be done. But the medicine is painful and it will take up time to work.
 
But how are they irresponsible, naive and dangerous when the cost of not doing them is a default. Do you think he wanted to go the IMF or cut expenditure so that he could hurt his own supporters. The easier option would have been the Noora option, which is to hide the true extent and then wait for someone else to take the blame. As you will know PK had over inflated Rupee which subsidised Imports and made Exports uncompetitive, the rupee was artificially inflated by using up Dollar reserves, but when he took over, we had none and something had to be done. But the medicine is painful and it will take up time to work.

There are alternatives to austerity, look at Labour's policies in the UK, at the policies in Germany and so on and so forth. This can be discussed in a separate thread if need be.
 
The West is not the master of all its surveys, Although they get their way most of the time. The fight between Iran and Saudi is like most wars, is an ego fight with other toxic variables mixed in, none of which are natural and can be sorted by people of imaan.

I don't blame the west if Muslim's are stupid enough to kill each other. Saudi's have always been American slaves and hate Iran for being Shia and challenging their authority. If Muslim's wanted to unite there is little the west could do about it.
 
Saudi and Iran should stop fighting and stop that stupid Yemen war. Innocents are dying for no reason.
 
Muslim leaders need to actually unite and stop this foolishness, need a European union like system to increase trade.
 
Welcome peace gesture by Pakistan, says President Rouhani alongside PM Imran

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday met Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Tehran during his one-day official trip, with both the leaders emphasising on the need for peace in the region.

"I told Prime Minster Imran we welcome any gesture by Pakistan for peace in the region and appreciate his visit to our country," said Rouhani at a joint press conference with the premier.

Rouhani said that the two leaders had discussed, among other things, the war in Yemen and the sanctions by the United States on Iran.

"Regional issues have to be resolved through regional means and dialogue. We also emphasised that any goodwill gesture will be responded with a goodwill gesture and good words," said the Iranian president.

"We also discussed how the nuclear deal could be restored," added Rouhani.

Rouhani also warned that Iran would respond to any threats, saying it was a “big mistake” to think it wouldn’t do so, according to the Associated Press.

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on Sunday shows Iranian President Hassan Rouhani shaking hands with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the Iranian capital Tehran. — AFP
Prime Minister Imran thanked Rouhani for speaking up for the people of occupied Kashmir at the UN General Assembly in New York, where the two leaders also held a meeting on the sidelines.

"Mr President, the main reason I came here with my delegation is that we don't want conflict in the region. Pakistan suffered 70,000 casualties in the last 15 years in the 'war on terror', Afghanistan is still suffering, [there is ] terrible devastation in Syria — we don't want another conflict in this part of the world," said Imran.

"Mr President, we have Iran as a neighbour, our ties with Iran go way back. Saudi Arabia has been one of our closest friends. Saudi Arabia has helped us when we have needed, when we have been in need and so the reason for this trip was that we don't want a conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran.

"We recognise that it is a complex issue but we feel that it can be resolved through dialogue. What should never happen is a war between Saudi Arabia and Iran because this will not just affect this whole region — two brotherly countries will be affected — this will cause poverty in the world. Oil prices will go up.

"There is vested interest behind this conflict," added the premier.

Speaking about his visit to Iran and upcoming trip to Saudi Arabia, he said it was Pakistan's own initiative, saying he felt encouraged after his meeting with Rouhani.

"I will go to Saudi Arabia with a positive mind. We would like to play the role of a facilitator and not mediator. We want to facilitate two brotherly Islamic countries.

"It is a complex situation but it can be resolved.

"We also discussed how the nuclear deal could be restored. When we were in New York, US President Donald Trump asked us to facilitate some sort of dialogue with Iran and the US," said the prime minister, adding that Pakistan was aware of the difficulties.

PM Imran calls on supreme leader
Later in the day, Prime Minister Imran called on Supreme Leader of Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran, the Prime Minister's Office said in a statement.

The prime minister thanked the supreme leader for support to the people of India-occupied Jammu and Kashmir for their right of self-determination.

Prime Minister Imran Khan in a meeting with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. — PM Office
He said that Muslim ummah faces numerous challenges internally and from the outside. "It is important to articulate a message of unity and solidarity among the Muslim nations," the premier added.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister's Office on the Tehran visit, the premier during his meeting with Khamenei "reaffirmed his resolve to comprehensively upgrade Pakistan-Iran relations".

"He also apprised the Supreme Leader of his initiative for regional peace and security," the statement added.

Meeting with Rouhani
In his meeting with the Iranian president, the prime minister "highlighted the historic ties and the tradition of close cooperation between the two countries", said the Prime Minister's Office.

The premier voiced his commitment to further strengthen ties between the two countries in diverse areas, "with a particular focus on enhanced trade and economic cooperation".

"Close cooperative ties with Iran have always been a priority for Pakistan," the statement quoted the prime minister as saying.

While discussing the security situation in the region, the prime minister underscored the need for "avoidance of military conflict and constructive engagement of all parties".

Pakistan's readiness to "extend full facilitation of efforts for de-escalation of tensions and resolution of differences and disputes through political and diplomatic means" was also conveyed by the premier to the Iranian president.

Arrival in Tehran
Earlier, both leaders held "wide-ranging consultations" during the meeting, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf's official Twitter account said.

"Pakistan attaches high importance to bilateral ties with Iran," the prime minister was quoted as saying by the PTI. "Pakistan is willing to play its role towards strengthening peace and stability in the region."



Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis, Human Resource Development Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari and other officials were also present during the meeting.

The prime minsiter also held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who had received the premier upon arrival.



The Foreign Office, in a statement issued on Saturday, said that Prime Minister Imran was undertaking the visit to Tehran "as part of his initiative to promote peace and security in the region".

This is Prime Minister Imran's second visit to Iran this year. In April, he undertook a two-day official trip on President Rouhani's invitation.

PM's 'initiative' for peace
Relations between Tehran and Riyadh have worsened in the aftermath of an attack on the world's biggest crude oil processing facility in Saudi Arabia on September 14. Saudi Arabia blamed the attack on Tehran but Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in an interview with CBS program "60 Minutes", had said that a war with Iran will be catastrophic for the global economy.

The New York Times and certain other media organisations had earlier claimed that Saudi crown prince had requested Prime Minister Imran to mediate between his country and Iran to stave off war.

The premier had also said in a press conference in New York on September 24 that US President Donald Trump had asked him to help in defusing tensions and he immediately went to meet President Rouhani on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly's 74th session last month.

However, the FO in a statement on Saturday credited the prime minister for the peace initiative. It said: “The initiative for possibility of dialogue between KSA [Kingdom of Saudi Arabia] and Iran, the two brotherly countries of Pakistan, is an effort by the prime minister of Pakistan for ensuring peace in the region.”

The statement denied that the crown prince had delivered a message for the Iranian leaders or even asked Prime Minister Imran to play a mediatory role with Iran.

Iran, meanwhile, said it was open to any mediation or direct talks with Saudi Arabia.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, in an interview with TRT while talking about the prime minister's initiative, said: “We’ve never rejected any intermediary [...] We’ve always been open to mediation, and we’ve always been open to direct talks with our Saudi neighbours.”

Emphasising the importance of dialogue for resolving outstanding issues, he said, “We don’t have any choice but to talk to each other.”

Link: https://www.dawn.com/news/1510619/w...tan-says-president-rouhani-alongside-pm-imran.
 
There are alternatives to austerity, look at Labour's policies in the UK, at the policies in Germany and so on and so forth. This can be discussed in a separate thread if need be.

Like what? Borrow more? From who and where? Cut taxes? When you are running an 7/8% deficit?
 
ISLAMABAD: Continuing with his endeavour to facilitate rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday met Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to encourage a negotiated settlement of disputes with Iran.

A statement issued by the Foreign Office said that Prime Minister Khan advised the monarch to peacefully resolve regional disputes through diplomacy.

The statement did not say how King Salman responded to Mr Khan’s suggestion. Saudi Arabia has in the past shunned such initiatives by Pakistan.

Pakistan has tried to mediate on four occasions in the past — most lately in 2016 when the then PM Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif visited Tehran and Riyadh to defuse the situation in the aftermath of execution of Saudi Shia cleric Baqir Al-Nimr. A curtain-raiser issued by the FO earlier in the day had also said the trip was part of Mr Khan’s “initiative for peace and security in the region”.

While Saudi Arabia and Iran have a history of hostile ties, the relations soured further after the start of Yemen war in 2015. Lately there has been a dangerous escalation in the situation following an attack claimed by the Houthis on Aramco-run oil fields and processing plant that crippled Saudi oil production.

It is feared that military confrontation between the two arch-rivals in the Gulf could have grave consequences for the neighbourhood and the region at large. It is in this context that efforts are being made by several countries, including Pakistan, to contain the crisis.

Prime Minister Khan first spoke about his initiative on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session last month. He had then said that President Trump had asked him to help in defusing tensions in the region. Mr Khan had also discussed the issue with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in their meeting in New York.

It was earlier claimed that the initiative had been taken on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s request. The FO, however, later denied that the initiative was being undertaken on someone else’s behest and claimed that the initiative was PM Khan’s own for the sake of regional peace.

Besides King Salman, Mr Khan along with his delegation also met Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during his stay in Riyadh.

PM Khan exchanged views with the crown prince on the security situation in the region and efforts for peace. He reiterated Pakistan’s ‘unwavering’ support and commitment to the security of the two Holy Mosques.

Earlier on Sunday, PM Khan with a similar message had travelled to Tehran, where the leadership welcomed Pakistan’s efforts aimed at defusing tensions in the region. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in his media talk after meeting Mr Khan said: “Regional issues have to be resolved through regional means and dialogue. We also emphasised that any goodwill gesture will be responded with a goodwill gesture and good words.”

It is believed that the way out of the Iran-Saudi Arabia stand-off lies in the resolution of Yemen issue.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, too, had told Mr Khan that Iran “has proposed a four-article plan for finishing the war on Yemen since a long time ago; the end of this war can have positive effects on the region.”

US-Iran ties

Prime Minister Khan expressed optimism about possible improvements in US-Iran ties which are currently at the lowest ebb after President Donald Trump announced withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, followed by imposition of pressing sanctions on Tehran, APP reported.


The prime minister, in a brief interview with a CNN programme hosted by Becky Anderson on Tuesday night, said that during his visit to New York, President Trump had asked him that he (Mr Khan) should try and go between Iran and the United States. And during his recent visit to Iran, PM Khan added, he had also spoken to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani about the US offer.

In reply to a question, the prime minister said the situation was evolving and he would not go into details. “Let’s see; it gets anywhere. I will not go into too much detail, until there is response from both sides.”

He admitted that relations between the two countries were more complicated; however, he expressed optimism that there was realisation on both sides.

About the US president, Mr Khan said the people criticised him often, but “I think, what I like in him that he does not believe in wars”.

Foreign investment

Prime Minister Khan welcomed a $240 million investment in Pakistan by a Hong Kong-based port operator and its commitment to the country’s economic prosperity.

Talking to a delegation of Hutchison Port Holdings, led by its Group Managing Director Eric Ip, which called on him on Tuesday, the prime minister reiterated the commitment and focus of the government to facilitate investment and ease-of-doing-business that would ultimately result in economic growth and employment generation.

According to a press release issued by the PM Office, Eric Ip apprised the prime minister of his company’s fresh investment of $240m in Pakistan that would make available a significant amount of new container terminal capacity at Karachi Port and increase Hutchison Port Holdings’ total investment in the country to $1 billion.

The prime minister was also briefed on the development of Hutchison Port Holdings, its parent company CK Hutchison Holdings, and the group’s commitment to playing a pivotal role in facilitating the economic growth of Pakistan, as well as supporting the development of Karachi Port into a major hub for trade in Asia.

Hutchison Port Holdings is one of the world’s largest port companies, with over 30,000 employees, operating 52 ports and terminals in 27 countries spanning Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas and Australia.

Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Adviser to the PM on Commerce Abdul Razzak Dawood, Special Assistant to the PM on Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Ambassador at Large for Foreign Investment Ali Jehangir Siddiqui, Board of Investment Chairman Zubair Haider Gilani and other senior officials were present during the meeting.

The Hutchison Ports delegation also included Managing Director for the Middle East & Africa Andy Tsoi, Business Director for the Middle East & Africa Eric Ng and members of the company’s Pakistan management team.

Link: https://www.dawn.com/news/1511076/riyadh-urged-to-resolve-row-with-tehran-thru-talks.
 
Pakistan has played an important role in defusing tensions between arch-foes Saudi Arabia and Iran, Prime Minister Imran Khan has told Al Jazeera in an exclusive interview, saying his country prevented a military escalation from taking place in the volatile region.

Khan said in the interview due to be broadcast on Wednesday that a military confrontation between the two regional powers constituted the worst possible scenario for the Middle East, adding that, despite the slow pace of results, Islamabad's mediation efforts were continuing.

"Our mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia has not stopped and we are making progress but slowly," Khan told Al Jazeera.

"We have done our best to avoid a military confrontation between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and our efforts have succeeded".

Tensions have been rising between Riyadh and Tehran over myriad issues, including the war in Yemen where the kingdom is battling the Houthi rebel movement.

Separately, Khan discussed his country's long-standing dispute with neighbouring India and accused Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi of undermining the South Asian giant's legacy of secularism.

"India fell under the control of an extremist ideology [propounded by] the "RSS," Khan said, referring to the
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh organisation, to which Modi belongs and which critics accuse of fomenting anti-Muslim hatred.

"What India's Muslims are facing resembles what happened during the extermination of Jews in Nazi Germany," he said.

The organisation, whose origin dates back to the early 20th century and whose thinking is widely believed to underpin the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's ideology, has long maintained that Hinduism is the basis of Indian nationalism.

Khan, who assumed office in August 2018, said his country has exhausted all possible routes to peacefully resolve its dispute with its eastern neighbour but that economic interests ultimately prevented its efforts from bearing fruit.

Khan also said Pakistan would maintain its neutral stance in the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Turkey [B.K. Bangash/AP Photo]
On the issue of Kashmir, Khan said the Indian government's revocation of Article 370 in August 2019 turned the disputed region into an "open-air prison".

Article 370 was the basis of Kashmir's accession to the Indian union at a time when erstwhile princely states had the choice to join either India or Pakistan after their independence from British rule in 1947.

The article, which came into effect in 1949, granted Indian-administered Kashmir special status, with the Muslim-majority region given jurisdiction to make its own laws in all matters except finance, defence, foreign affairs and communications. But many of those powers were gradually watered down by New Delhi.

"Within a year, Kashmir has been closed off and its economy destroyed," Khan said. "Eight-hundred thousand Indian troops have imposed an open air-prison on Kashmiris."

Khan also said Pakistan would maintain its neutral stance in the dispute between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, whose relationship has soured following the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the kingdom's consulate in Istanbul in October 2018.

Asked about his absence from a Muslim summit held in Malaysia last year, Khan said he decided to not attend the meeting in order to preserve unity among Muslims, insisting that Islamabad viewed both Ankara and Riyadh - which boycotted the event - as reliable partners in several fields.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020...ed-saudi-iran-escalation-200803145257171.html
 
Nothing better than a peace deal between Iran and Saudi. And if Imran can be the deal maker that will be amazing for him and Pakistan’s image
 
U.N. condemns up to 23 killings in Iran's border area with Pakistan

GENEVA (Reuters) - At least a dozen people and possibly up to 23 have been killed in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchistan province where Revolutionary Guards and security forces have used lethal force against fuel couriers from ethnic minorities and protesters, the United Nations said on Friday.

Iran is investigating an incident in which at least two Iranians were shot dead this week at the border with Pakistan, and Islamabad has handed over the body of one of the victims, the Iranian foreign ministry said a week ago.

The shooting of people carrying fuel across the border led to protests that spread from the city of Saravan to other areas in the southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchistan, including the capital, Zahedan.

“The series of violent events and unrest began on 22 February, when Revolutionary Guards are alleged to have shot and killed at least 10 fuel couriers, known as sookhtbar, in Sistan and Baluchistan Province at the border with Pakistan, after a two-day stand-off triggered by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps blocking the road to the city of Saravan,” U.N. human rights spokesman Rupert Colville told a news briefing in Geneva.

The killings had triggered demonstrations in several cities across the province, during which the revolutionary guard and security forces fired lethal ammunition at protesters and bystanders, he said.

Colville said that it has been difficult to verify the death toll due to disruptions of local mobile data networks, but some unconfirmed reports have estimated that as many as 23 people may have been killed.

“We call on the authorities to immediately restore Internet access in areas that remain disconnected,” he said.

Sistan-Baluchistan’s population is predominantly Sunni Muslim, while most Iranians are Shi’ite. Iran has some of the lowest fuel prices in the world and has been fighting smuggling to neighbouring countries.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...irans-border-area-with-pakistan-idUSKBN2AX130
 
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