Summary PM Nawaz earlier met with Iran's President Hassan Rouhani and top leadership of the country.
TEHRAN (Dunya News/AFP) - Pakistan on Wednesday has offered to host talks between Saudi Arabia and Iran to resolve their differences. Prime Minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif stated that Iran was in agreement with this offer and Pakistan is waiting for the Saudis reply.
PM Nawaz earlier on Tuesday met with Iran s President Hassan Rouhani and top leadership of the country for talks aimed at easing tensions between the regional powers
Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Shareef flew into the Islamic republic of Iran from Saudi Arabia, where on Monday the PM expressed "deep concern" to King Salman over the diplomatic crisis.
"We wish to develop our relations and are opposed to any tension, as long as the rights of Muslims and the people of the region are respected and that the rules of diplomacy and politeness are respected," Rouhani told him, according to Iran s official IRNA news agency.
Sharif, according to a statement from the Iranian presidency, said that Pakistan "always strives to diminish tensions between Muslim nations".
He added that those behind "terrorism and extremism" take advantage of tensions between Muslim countries.
PM Nawaz has also decided to appoint focal persons to further the peace process.
Talking to the media after the meeting with President Rouhani, PM Nawaz said both Iran and Saudi Arabia have praised Pakistan’s efforts to mediate. He said Pakistan isn’t doing this as a favour but as a duty to the Muslim world.
The Prime Minister said the peace process between the two brother Islamic countries is the top priority of Pakistan.
He said Saudi Arabia would also be requested to appoint a focal person to be involved in the dialogue process.
PM Nawaz and General Raheel Sharif also met with the Iranian Defence Minister where the Nawaz reiterated that Muslim Ummah’s unity is the need of the time and that Pakistan is ready to play its role to ease the tensions between brotherly Muslim countries.
Further Reading: PM, COAS meet Iran s Defence Minister
Saudi Arabia and a number of its Arab allies cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early January, sending already tense relations between the rival nations to a new low.
Riyadh reacted after protesters burned Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom on January 2 executed Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr.
He was among 47 people put to death in a single day for "terrorism".
The dispute between Saudi Arabia and Iran has raised fears of greater regional instability and concerns for peace efforts in Syria and Yemen, where Saudi Arabia and Iran support opposing sides.
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