Riyadh urged to resolve row with Tehran thru talks

RIYADH, Oct 16(Dawn): Continuing with his endeavour to facilitate rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran, Pakistan 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.