NEW DELHI – Backdoor diplomacy initiated by Saudi Arabia and the UAE mayhelp ease tensions between Pakistan’s military and former prime ministerNawaz Sharif with a possibility of a political deal on the horizon,according to sources in political circles, Hindustan Times has reported.

Nawaz Sharif will be in Saudi Arabia over the weekend to meet with Saudicrown prince Muhammad Bin Salman at the request of the Pakistani militaryhigh command which wants to avert a head-on collision with the former primeminister.Sharif will be expected to tone down his barbed attacks against themilitary and in exchange some sort of deal could be in the offing underwhich Shahbaz Sharif would be given the military’s endorsement as thecountry’s next prime minister while Nawaz Sharif would be allowed to retainhis position as the president of the ruling PML-N party.

Shahbaz Sharif, the younger brother of Nawaz and the chief minister ofPunjab, is already on an official visit in Saudi Arabia.

He was nominated for the position of prime minister by Nawaz earlier thismonth after the possibility of Nawaz being able to run for a fourth termwas ruled out by the courts.