TEHRAN, Iran: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said on Tuesday that Pakistan will appoint a focal person on Saudi-Iran issue as its top priority is to defuse tension between the two regional powers.
Talking to media in Tehran after meeting with the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Sharif said that Pakistan proposed to the Iranian leadership to appoint a focal person on the Saudi-Iran issue, and he would also talk to Saudi Arabia to appoint their focal person.
Sharif said that Pakistan will also appoint a focal person on the issue so that it could interact with the two brotherly countries through their focal persons to take this process forward.
The prime minister said that Pakistan considers defusing Saudi-Iran tension as sacred mission and both brethren countries hailed the Pakistan’s efforts for mediating role.
In addition, he expressed satisfaction over his visits of Saudi Arabia and Iran, and said that Pakistan will make all out efforts to normalize the relations between Riyadh and Tehran.
Nawaz Sharif said that Saudi Arabia and Iran are aware about the potential threat of terrorism. He said that extremism and terrorism are common threats and joint efforts needed to overcome it.
Earlier, Sharif met the Iranian president in Tehran and discussed the regional issues with particular focus on the ongoing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, National Security Advisor Lt. General (rtd) Nasir Khan Janjua and Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi were also present in the meeting.
The high-ranking Pakistani delegation headed by Nawaz Sharif paid a visit to Tehran as part of efforts to defuse the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Sharif also held a meeting with the Iranian Defence Minister Hossein Dehghan in Tehran soon after his arrival in Tehran.
Talking to him, the prime minister said that unity of Muslim Ummah is need of the hour. He said that Pakistan wants peace and stability in the region.
The Iranian defence minister appreciated the role Pakistan is playing for defusing tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
COAS meets Secretary of Supreme National Security Council
Meanwhile, General Raheel Sharif met Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of Supreme National Security Council who is also military advisor to the Supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenai.
During the meeting, matters related to regional security came under discussion, according to the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The COAS said that regional security and stability is paramount and stressed the need for opening up of communication channels between Iran and KSA to diffuse tension. He said that to counter emerging threats, greater Muslim unity is need of the hour. Menace of terrorism can only be addressed through coordinated response.
On Monday, the Pakistani delegation also visited Riyadh and met the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to persuade him to resolve the tense situation with Iran diplomatically.
During the meeting, the prime minister expressed deep concern over recent escalation of Saudi-Iran tension. He called for resolution of differences through peaceful means in larger interest of Ummah, particularly during these challenging times.
