Muslim world facing grave dangers: Sartaj Aziz

National interest will be given priority in context of the diplomatic row in the Middle East, he said.

Islamabad: Pakistan is concerned over recent tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran that spiralled after the execution of Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz said in a policy statement he read before the National Assembly on Tuesday.
The Muslim world faces grave dangers in the situation that has arisen in wake of the Saudi-Iran standoff, Sartaj said.
He expressed concern that terrorists can use the diplomatic crisis in the Middle East to their advantage.
The statement follows criticism from opposition parties which lashed out at the government in the National Assembly for not coming up with a clear stance on the situation in the region because of the tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran and called for a parliamentary briefing on the issue.
Leader of the Opposition Khurshid Shah while commenting on Sartaj's statement regretted that the government has adopted a weak stance. He said Pakistan could play a proactive role and mobilise the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) to resolve the escalating crisis between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
In his statement, Sartaj maintained that Pakistan will continue to play its role to ease tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia and it advocates unity among the Muslim countries.
He said the National Assembly would be given an in-camera briefing on the Saudi-Iran tensions.
National interest will be given priority in context of the diplomatic row in the Middle East, he said.
Pakistan disapproved on Monday a mob attack on Saudi Arabia's embassy in Tehran, which sparked a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Arab countries, Dawn newspaper reported.
In response to rumours that Pakistan was also exploring options about downgrading its diplomatic relations with Iran, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said, "I will not comment on rumours and speculations."
There have been protests in Pakistan against the execution of the Shia cleric. But the Foreign Office has avoided commenting on the development that led to escalation of tensions between the two rivals.
Pakistan is an ally of Saudi Arabia and the two countries share close economic and defence ties. A scheduled January 18 trip by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to Tehran, according to a diplomatic source, has become uncertain following the tiff between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
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