Trump, Salman seek Imran Khan’s help in defusing tension between Saudi Arabia, Iran
ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud have sought help from Prime Minister Imran Khan in defusing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Replying to a query during a press conference in New York regarding possible mediation efforts by Pakistan in the gulf crisis, Imran Khan said President Trump asked him if he could be helpful in deescalating the evolving situation in the region.
“Before President Trump, I stopped over in Saudi Arabia because of drone attacks on their oil facility and I spoke to Prince Mohammad bin Salman and he also asked me to talk to the Iranian president as he knew that I was going to meet him,” he said adding that they were trying their best in this regard and he could not reveal further details about it as it was an ongoing thing.
Also Read: UNSC resolutions recognize Kashmir as disputed region: Imran Khan
On Tuesday, the leaders of the UK, Germany and France blamed that Iran was behind the attacks Saudi Arabian oil facilities earlier in September, drawing a sharp response from Iran.
PM Imran said he immediately spoke to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani a day ago after the meeting with President Trump. “But I can’t say anything now more than this except that we are trying at mediating.”
“I am hoping that there’s no conflict. I do not believe that conflicts actually resolve anything. WE have the situation in Afghanistan and here I am on record saying that I was against this the whole war in Afghanistan and Pakistan becoming part of this war.
“I was told both times that look the war in Afghanistan will be over in a few weeks and Pakistan will only be involved in this for a few weeks so 19 years down the line we have a (quagmire) situation,” he said.
The prime minister said Pakistan was trying now to get the talks restarted between Taliban and the Americans. And once the deal was signed which was almost about to be signed then he would meet the Taliban and try to convince them to talk to the Afghan govt as well, as Taliban were ready to talk to the US but not to the Afghan government, he maintained.
