'Saudi-Iran military conflict would be disastrous for Pak'

Islamabad, Jan 17 (IANS) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that a military conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran would be "disastrous" for Islamabad and it was for this reason that his government is making efforts to defuse regional tensions, a media report said on Friday.In an interview with German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Thursday, the premier said: "It's true that we live in a difficult neighbourhood and we have to balance our actions. For instance, Saudi Arabia is one of Pakistan's greatest friends and has always been there for us. Then we have Iran, with which we have always maintained a good relationship," Dawn news said in the report."Therefore, a military conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran would be disastrous for Pakistan. "We are trying our best to make sure that ties between these two countries do not deteriorate. It is a region that cannot afford another conflict," he added.Taking note of the dangerously high tensions, Khan has sent Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi to Tehran and Riyadh to encourage exercising of "maximum restraint" in the dispute. Qureshi is currently in Washington as part of his efforts to reduce tensions between Iran and the US.
--IANS ksk/