Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Pir Noorul Haq Qadri has said that Pakistan would be siding with Saudi Arabia in the current circumstances prevailing in the Middle East.
While addressing a ceremony regarding aid for people of Azad Kashmir, which was also attended by Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Maliki, Qadri said that Saudi Arabia had always supported Pakistan in difficult situations. He added that the kingdom was a friend and had always given importance to Pakistan.
The minister stated that they were proud of their friendship with Saudi Arabia, which has helped Pakistan frequently.
Qadri viewed that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had supported Pakistan in time of need and that Saudi Arabia launched relief operations for the cold-affected people of the northern regions of the country.
The statement comes days after a top Iranian commander, Qasim Suleimani, was killed in a drone strike carried out by the United States. Tensions in the Middle East have been high as Iran has vowed revenge. On Saturday, foreign media reported that rockets launched by Iranian-backed militias landed near the US Embassy in Baghdad and an Iraqi airbase housing US troops.
On Friday, the Foreign Office issued a statement expressing ‘deep concern’ with the recent developments in the Middle East, which seriously threatened peace in the region.
The statement by the Foreign Office did not clearly mention the assassination of the Iranian general, but his statement apparently referred to his death when it said that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity were fundamental principles of the UN charter.
Following the drone strike, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called COAS General Qamar Bajwa to discuss with him escalating tensions with Iran.
In an event of a clash between the US and Iran, Iran’s regional rival in the region, Saudi Arabia would be siding with the United States as they also happen to be close allies. Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia, and the influence Saudi Arabia wields over Pakistan, will likely make Pakistan emerge on the side of the US and KSA in their clash with Iran.
While addressing a ceremony regarding aid for people of Azad Kashmir, which was also attended by Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Maliki, Qadri said that Saudi Arabia had always supported Pakistan in difficult situations. He added that the kingdom was a friend and had always given importance to Pakistan.
The minister stated that they were proud of their friendship with Saudi Arabia, which has helped Pakistan frequently.
Qadri viewed that the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had supported Pakistan in time of need and that Saudi Arabia launched relief operations for the cold-affected people of the northern regions of the country.
The statement comes days after a top Iranian commander, Qasim Suleimani, was killed in a drone strike carried out by the United States. Tensions in the Middle East have been high as Iran has vowed revenge. On Saturday, foreign media reported that rockets launched by Iranian-backed militias landed near the US Embassy in Baghdad and an Iraqi airbase housing US troops.
On Friday, the Foreign Office issued a statement expressing ‘deep concern’ with the recent developments in the Middle East, which seriously threatened peace in the region.
The statement by the Foreign Office did not clearly mention the assassination of the Iranian general, but his statement apparently referred to his death when it said that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity were fundamental principles of the UN charter.
Following the drone strike, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called COAS General Qamar Bajwa to discuss with him escalating tensions with Iran.
In an event of a clash between the US and Iran, Iran’s regional rival in the region, Saudi Arabia would be siding with the United States as they also happen to be close allies. Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia, and the influence Saudi Arabia wields over Pakistan, will likely make Pakistan emerge on the side of the US and KSA in their clash with Iran.