PM Nawaz, Gen Raheel leave for Riyadh to mediate in Saudi-Iran row

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Gen Raheel Sharif left for Riyadh on Monday in order to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran amid growing fears that a prolonged confrontation could have serious consequences for the region, Dawn newspaper reported.

The premier and army chief, who are travelling to Saudi Arabia on the same plane, will later visit Tehran in an attempt to persuade the two rivals to de-escalate and resolve their disputes diplomatically.

They are accompanied by National Security Adviser Lt Gen (retd) Nasser Janjua and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi.

The prime minister will meet Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office.

On the same day, the statement said, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will travel to Zurich to attend the World Economic Forum being held in Davos.

“Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif will lead a high-level delegation to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Republic of Iran on Tuesday and Wednesday to exchange views on regional and international issues,” said an official statement released by the Foreign Office.

With the army chief in the delegation, the visit has assumed added importance and it is hoped that Pakistan would make a serious attempt to defuse tension between the two countries.

Source: MENA