ISLAMABAD: The China-brokered agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran and the abrupt end to years of tension between the two countries have kindled hopes and opened diplomatic space for crisis-hit Pakistan to explore new economic avenues in a more stable region.
Pakistan is also among the beneficiaries of this positive development, which has, for years, struggled to balance relations between the two countries.
Talking to We News, foreign affairs experts and officials concerned said that the sudden cessation of tension between Pakistan’s long-time friend (Saudi Arabia) and a neighbour (Iran) was received as a breath of fresh air in Islamabad, which will open new avenues of development and cause stability in the crisis-hit country.
On the 10th of this month, Beijing announced that Saudi Arabia and Iran had agreed to end years of tension and restore diplomatic relations and open embassies in each other’s country within two months.
A statement issued by the Saudi state press agency also said that under the agreement brokered by China, the two countries have also agreed to activate the 2001 Security Cooperation Agreement and the 1998 Agreement on Trade, Economy and Investment.
Saudi Arabia severed diplomatic relations with Iran in 2016 after protesters attacked diplomatic facilities in Tehran.
What is in agreement for Pakistan?
Talking to We News about the impact of the deal between the two countries on Pakistan, former diplomat Maleeha Lodhi said: “The rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran has opened up diplomatic space for Pakistan to explore new economic initiatives in what can be a more stable region.”
She said, “For long, Pakistan has struggled to balance relations between a strategic ally (Saudi Arabia) and a neighbour (Iran). Now it can pursue better relations with Iran without any fear.”
Pakistan has welcomed the normalisation of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran after the deal came to the fore on March 10, calling it an “important diplomatic development”. The foreign office also praised the leadership of Saudi Arabia and Iran for showing magnanimity to pay the way for this development.
The statement also said that Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in the Middle East and the region with continued support for efforts to bridge the gap between the two brotherly countries.
‘Saudi-Iran tension was a big snag for Pakistan’
Prime Minister’s Special Representative for the Middle East Tahir Ashrafi told We News: “Iran-Saudi Arabia agreement is good news for Pakistan because the tussle between the two countries remained a major impediment for Pakistan.
“Iran is Pakistan’s neighbour while Saudi Arabia is a long-time friend that has helped Pakistan in every difficulty. Due to the tussle between these two, Pakistan faced a delicate situation, and it was like a fight between two loved ones in a house. Now if things between the two countries go in the right direction, Pakistan will also benefit from it,” he said
Tahir Ashrafi said that Saudi Arabia has recently said it can immediately start investing in Iran, which is a welcome development.
According to him, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman want to see not only an economically strong and stable Arab world but also an Islamic world.
Tahir Ashrafi said that the agreement between Saudi Arabia and Iran would also help reduce the sectarian tension in Pakistan. “Although Saudi Arabia has never interfered in Pakistan in this regard, it will create a conducive atmosphere in Pakistan and Pakistan is very happy for that.
Victory for China, blow to the US?
According to Maleeha Lodhi: “The Saudi-Iran deal is a huge diplomatic setback for the US as China, that Washington is trying so hard to contain, mediated their agreement. China has scored a major diplomatic victory and demonstrated its growing global influence and established itself as a major player in the Middle East. China is the biggest trading partner of both countries and, unlike the US, has good relations with both to play peacemaker. The US has been diplomatically marginalized by the development – for now. Its effort to isolate Iran has suffered a major reversal at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran’s nuclear program. The US plan to normalise Saudi-Israel relations has also been scuttled for the immediate future.”
Trade with Iran will improve but it may antagonise US?
Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Woodrow Wilson Center, an American think tank, told We News that the deal, if it remains in place, could give Pakistan more diplomatic space to pursue better commercial relations with Iran, and more trade with Tehran would be a boost.”
He said: “Still, Pakistan will need to navigate a diplomatic minefield: Saudi Arabia and Iran will likely both want to approach Pakistan cautiously as long as it continues to experience such severe economic and political stability. Also, Pakistan will itself have to be cautious in engaging Tehran, as it won’t want to risk upsetting Washington, a key Pakistani trade partner that also has influence over the IMF. So, for the Pakistanis, the realities of realpolitik could neutralise any economic benefits from the deal.”
Regarding the agreement’s impact on CPEC, he said, “The obstacles faced by the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project do not have much to do with Iran or Saudi Arabia, but the real issue depends on the relationship between China and Pakistan.”
“Economic problems in Pakistan and Beijing’s concerns about security threats in Pakistan have slowed the pace of CPEC project. Even if the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal succeeds, these problems will not magically disappear.”
Possibility of a breakthrough in Pakistan-Iran relations?
Afzal Raza, the bureau chief of Iran’s state news agency IRNA in Pakistan, told We News that Pakistani authorities have received the agreement as a sigh of relief as their major headache has dissipated.
He said that Pakistan was under tremendous pressure due to Iran-Saudi tensions, but despite that, Pakistan maintained a delicate balance in its relations with both countries in the past.
Despite the end of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in 2016, Pakistan’s top military and political leadership continued to visit Iran.
“Pakistan realised that if it antagonised Iran, there could be tension along it border with Iran, and that is why both countries maintained close contacts,” the Irani journalist said.
According to him, Pakistan’s civil and military officials told him Islamabad was expecting a major breakthrough with Iran after the agreement. They said that it will improve not only military relations between Pakistan and Iran but also high-level visits were expected soon.
He said the Pakistan-Iran gas pipeline could now be restored, which Tehran eagerly awaits.
‘Agreement harbinger of peace in the region’
According to Faisal J Abbas, editor of the Saudi newspaper Arab News, the Saudi-Iran agreement is a harbinger of peace in the entire region. “As far as regional outcomes are concerned, their list is very long, but if Iran sticks to the deal, we can only imagine waking up to a world in which Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon are achieving peace and progress,” he wrote in an article in Arab News. Is that a huge expectation? Yes, but is this a wish to be pursued? Absolutely!”
“The United States and the rest of the international community must support this agreement in every way possible for it to be successful and to have a positive impact not only on the region but on the world as a whole.”
