ISLAMABAD — Pakistani Foreign policy experts are optimistic with PrimeMinister Imran Khan’s initiative for mediation in the Persian Gulf to pavethe way for peace in the region.
They expressed the views at a round table conference titled ‘Mediation inthe Persian Gulf: Initiatives, Strategies and Obstacles hosted by IslamabadPolicy Institute (IPI), an Islamabad-based think-tank, on the eve of PrimeMinister Imran Khan’s upcoming mediation trip to Iran and Saudi Arabia.
The discussion was attended by a large number of retired diplomats, membersof academia, representatives of think-tanks and members of civil society.
Former Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhry, in his keynote, said that despitehuge obstacles including the massive mistrust between Saudi Arabia andIran, and regional power play, Pakistan was the best suited country forsuch a role because of its strong credentials with both countries. Heunderscored that the geo-political environment was conducive for theeffort, no matter how little space was available for making progress.
He said Pakistan regards both Iran and Saudi Arabia as close friends.
He proposed that PM Imran Khan should during the trip warn leaders of bothcountries about the consequences of war, not just for the two countries,but for the larger region and the world at large; seek a minimum commonagenda on which the effort could be made forward; offer to host a summit ora senior leadership meeting of both countries in Pakistan; and renew goodoffices to both countries.
Chaudhry added that US President Donald Trump has not done a fair deal bypulling out of the JCPOA which was signed after years of diplomaticefforts. “JCPOA was a success of diplomacy,” he said.
Pakistan’s former ambassador to Iran Asif Durrani observed that good sensehad prevailed with Saudi Arabia after realizing that the war in Yemen wasnot going their way even after four years. He emphasized the need ofconfidence building measures between Iran and Saudi Arabia for the peaceeffort to progress.
He added that Persian Gulf has been facing peculiar situation for past fourdecades. He said that Iran is a great country and civilization with 97percent literacy rate and a leader in the public health.
Durrani noted that Iran is one of the leading countries in the regionhowever the Arab monarchs are scared of the development of Iran.
He said that only problem to US with Iran is that the later challenges UShegemony. “Iran has been at loggerheads with the US ever since the IslamicRevolution,” said the former ambassador. He said that the US has been thefactor of instability in the region.
He called on Iranian government to build trust with Riyadh and said thatIran should play its role in bringing peace and stability in Yemen.
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Durrani said that one should be optimistic about Pakistan Prime MinisterImran Khan’s efforts to defuse tensions in the Persian Gulf region.
Syed Qandil Abbas, Professor of Politics and International Relations atQauid-e-Azam University said there was need to change the narrative aboutIran – Saudi conflict from a sectarian one to that of power contest inwhich both countries were trying to secure their interests. This, hebelieved, would help resolve the dispute.
He said that Iran trusts Pakistan and has confidence in Pakistan peaceinitiatives. He added that Pakistan has proved neutrality in Middle Easternconflicts thus has a strong position to mediate between Iran and SaudiArabia.
M.M Zamani, Research Councilor at the Embassy of Iran expressing his viewssaid that the US is the real problem in the region which is not allowingthe regional states to resolve their issues. “US should leave the regionso that we can manage our problems,” he said.
He said that Iran is not isolated in the world rather it is the US which isisolated. He said that Iran has full confidence in Pakistan’s peaceinitiative. “We will pray for Pakistan to do its best,” he said.
Arab Affairs Analyst Ali Mehr was skeptical about the mediation initiativeand said that Imran Khan could at the best play the role of a messengerbetween the two countries. He warned about the US role and influence onSaudi Arabia saying it could prevent any breakthrough in the initiative.
Mehr suggested that the prime minister’s efforts should be exclusivelyfocused on finding some solution of the Yemen war. He further proposed thatPakistan should join hands with Iraq and Oman for making a bigger effortfor rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Executive Director IPI Professor Sajjad Bokhari said Pakistan, which haslegitimate political, economic and security interests in the region, cannotremain completely removed from the effects of developments in the MiddleEast.
“Therefore, it is important that Pakistan’s interests be secured in theface of unpredictable circumstances by working for peace in the region,” hesaid. -IRNA
