Should Pakistan Remain Involved in the Peace Process Between Saudi Arabia and Iran?

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Pakistan’s role in between the two countries ties are not much obvious though it is a sunni majority nation with second largest Shi’ite population after Iran. Pakistan has close diplomatic ties with Saudi Arabia and shares a border with Iran.

It is extremely important for Washington and its European allies to adopt a balanced approach to manage their relations with their old Arab Allies without affecting their new “more friendly” policies towards Iran. The worsening of Saudi-Iranian relations is likely to exacerbate the Shi’ite-Sunni tension in the region and complicate efforts to combat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. The situation is extremely delicate and if not handled properly, may escalate to unprecedented levels.

While Iran is a neighbor of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has provided Pakistan with immense financial assistance and with a war being fought against terrorism at home.

Therefore in my opinion Pakistan cannot afford to take sides in this conflict. Pakistan should adopt a policy of neutrality in this conflict with second highest population of Shi’ites, this sectarian divide will trickle down in Pakistan which already has a fragile sectarian set up. It is in Pakistan’s interest to play the part of reconciliation between the two countries. Pakistan cannot afford to ruin its relations with another neighboring country like it did with India and Afghanistan. Iran would provide energy and gas which would benefit Pakistan as a whole along with some financial aid like it provided to insurgent in Balochistan previously.

Pakistan should act as a mediator in Saudi Arabia and Iran’s escalating dispute and should take a stand of neutrality to benefit from both of the countries as Pakistan itself is not stable with the sectarian issues and if side is taken so more sectarian issues would prevail in Pakistan and make it more divided among sects.

References

- http://thediplomat.com/2016/01/why-is-pakistan-interested-in-brokering-peace-between-iran-and-saudi-arabia/

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- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran–Saudi_Arabia_relations