Saudi-Iran war would be disastrous for Pakistan: PM Imran

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said that a military conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran would be disastrous for Pakistan and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government is trying its best to make sure that ties between these two countries do not deteriorate as the region that cannot afford another conflict.

In an exclusive interview with DW Editor-in-Chief Ines Pohl, the prime minister talked about the Iran crisis and the international community s “lukewarm” response to the Kashmir dispute.

Imran Khan said that it s true that we live in a difficult neighborhood and we have to balance our actions. For instance, Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan s greatest friends and has always been there for us. Then we have Iran, with which we have always maintained a good relationship. Therefore, a military conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran would be disastrous for Pakistan. We are trying our best to make sure that ties between these two countries do not deteriorate. It is a region that cannot afford another conflict.

He further said that Pakistan is also doing its best to bring peace to Afghanistan, adding that it is a country that has suffered so much in the past 40 years and we pray that the Taliban, the Americans and the Afghan government achieve peace.

To a question, PM Imran said that he was the first leader to warn the world about what is happening in India, adding that New Delhi has been taken over by an extremist ideology known as “Hindutva.” It is the ideology of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“A nuclear-armed country is being run by extremists, and Kashmir has been under siege for over five months,” he said.

To a question regarding his willingness to talk to Indian PM Modi, Khan said he made an effort to talk to the Indian government and PM Modi, adding that in his first speech as prime minister, he said that if India moved one step forward, we would take two steps toward them to resolve our differences.