Nawaz Sharif meets King Salman to defuse Saudi-Iran tension

China has maintained thorough communication with Middle East countries to help ease tensions in the region.

Most of those executed were Sunnis.

As is well known, the people of Pakistan hold the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in high esteem and have deep respect for the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques.

A document from the Saudi embassy in Nairobi to the Somali embassy in the Kenyan capital showed the kingdom pledging $20 million in budget support and another $30 million for investment in Somalia, a nation trying to rebuild after two decades of war.

The premier is accompanied by a high-level delegation, including his foreign policy adviser Sartaj Aziz, special advisor Tariq Fatemi and National Security Advisor Nasir Khan Janjua.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Monday agreed that the Muslim countries should resolve their differences through dialogue.

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

CNPC, parent of PetroChina, is also restructuring its Middle East operations, aiming to offer more integrated services from exploration to engineering, a company source said.

“With Iran re-joining the world trade, Pakistan can look forward to meeting its energy needs from across the border by completing the pending gas pipeline”, remarked an analyst.

Pakistan is a majority Sunni country but has a sizable Shi’ite population as well.

The region, which marks 60 years of diplomatic ties with China this year, is also an important part of China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, being one of the main locations where continental transit routes and maritime routes converge, noted Dr Andrew Small from the German Marshall Fund’s Asia programme.

“During the meeting, aspects of bilateral cooperation between the two sisterly countries and the developments at the regional and worldwide arenas were discussed”, it said.

Several other Arab states such as neighboring Bahrain, a long-time close ally and recipient of Saudi largesse also cut ties. “And, yes, we have nukes, so we can’t just stand around as tensions mount”.

But with a large Shi’ite minority, Pakistan has a lot to lose from rising sectarian tensions.

Iran emerged from years of economic isolation early on Sunday morning when world powers lifted sanctions in return for Tehran curbing its nuclear ambitions.