Islamabad, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz
Sharif today left on a crucial two-day visit to Iran, aiming to improve the
frayed relations and balance its ties with the neighbouring country and Saudi
Arabia. A
high-level delegation including Adviser to the Prime Minister on National
Security and Foreign Affairs, Minister for Finance, Minister for Petroleum and
Natural Resources, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs
and Balochistan Chief Minister is accompanying Sharif. Sharif will meet President
Hassan Rouhani to discuss bilateral issues and call on the country's Supreme
leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This
will be Sharif's first visit to Tehran after coming into power last year and is
taking place in the aftermath of a number of developments in the region from
the border tensions to Islamabad's reported policy shift towards Syria. Relations between Pakistan and
Iran have long been marred by mistrust, but the gulf widened since PML-N came
to power last year.
Analysts
here say Pakistan is interested in bilateral cooperation in power and energy
sector. The visit would
provide an opportunity to discuss the stumbling blocks in the execution of the
multi-billion dollar Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project. It will also provide
an opportunity for the leaders of the two sides to meet and mend the frayed
relations following the recent controversy over the kidnapping of the Iranian
border guards. Pakistan is
walking the tight rope between the Sunni majority Saudi Arabia, a close ally,
and the Shia majority Iran, an important neighbour. The bone of contention is the
ongoing civil war in Syria. While
Tehran is supporting the regime of Bashar al Assad, the Saudis are backing
Sunni militant groups trying to dethrone him.
Ever
since Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud visited Pakistan in
February, there is intense speculation here that Pakistan has tilted in
Riyadh's favour. Speculation
about a shift from Pakistan's traditional policy of non-interference in the
affairs of Muslim countries emanated from a joint declaration that had called
for the "formation of a transitional governing body" in Syria. It was
also fueled by media reports claiming Saudi Arabia was in talks with Pakistan
to provide anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets to the Syrian rebels.Sharif
had at an envoys' conference on Middle East and Gulf last week said
"efforts to develop bilateral ties with one country are not, and will not
be, at the expense of another". He
was implied to be referring to the delicate balance that Pakistan has to strike
in ties with Saudi Arabia and Iran.
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