It was stated that Saudi Arabia is ready to be a mediator between India and Pakistan in efforts to reduce the long-lasting dispute between the two nuclear neighbors. The statement came during an interview that the Saudi Foreign Minister gave to the official channel Pakistan Television (PTV).
In his speech, Saudi Minister Faisal bin Farhan said that his country “can play a role in reducing tensions between Pakistan and India.” Minister Farhan also hailed the latest ceasefire understanding that had been reached between the two countries.
Apart from the Saudi offer, it has been known that the United Arab Emirates-led “backdoor” diplomacy between the two sides is ongoing. As a result of this attempt, the two nuclear neighbors’ armies reached an agreement in February to obey a 2003 ceasefire agreement at the disputed Kashmir border.
Even though the existence of such talks has been insistently denied by the two sides, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi affirmed last week during an interview that the two militaries are in contact to keep each other informed on developing situations. Qureshi described these contacts as “routine.”
Speaking at a virtual meeting organized by Stanford University’s Hoover Institution in April, Yousef Al Otaiba, the UAE’s ambassador to Washington, also confirmed his country’s role in bringing New Delhi and Islamabad to a level where both sides could establish a “healthy and functional” relationship.
Last weekend, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan paid a three-day official visit to Riyadh where he met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional developments. Khan’s visit came upon the invitation of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz.
