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Pakistan Neutral in Tehran-Riyadh Feud

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran Asif Ali Khan Durrani says his country will not take sides in the dispute between regional powerhouses Iran and Saudi Arabia.

“We attach high importance to unity of Muslim states. When it comes to issues that could harm the unity among our brothers, we won’t take sides,” he told ISNA in an interview published Wednesday.

Iran and Saudi Arabia are at loggerheads over a long list of disagreements, particularly the crisis in Syria, Yemen and Bahrain.

Pointing to last year’s visit by Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Tehran and Riyadh as mediator after the Saudis cut Iran ties in January 2016, Durrani said his country is ready to lend a helping hand if it can.

“We are concerned as a lack of unity might lead to instability for all.”

“We will stick to the policy of promoting calm [in Muslim lands] and unity among them,” he said.