PM Imran in bid to ease Saudi Arabia and Iran tensions after successful China visit
October 10, 2019
Prime Minister Imran Khan is likely to make short visits to Saudi Arabia and Iran after concluding his successful three-day visit to China, sources said on Wednesday.
The role of PM Imran as an international mediator for the establishment of regional peace is gaining importance and preparations for his next visits have commenced, diplomatic sources said.
PM Khan was expected to hold consultations for the trips to Riyadh and Tehran after returning home from China. Sources added that the dates for the possible foreign tours would be discussed during those consultations.
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The visit to Iran may prove to be very crucial as reports last month suggested that the premier had offered to act as mediator in order to defuse the increasing tensions in the Middle East.
The offer had been made after talks with United States President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before PM Imran addressed the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
According to reports, PM Imran will visit Saudi Arabia on October 29 to participate in the three-day Future Investment Initiative (FII) conference in Riyadh on the invitation of Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
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It is pertinent to mention here that the Saudi government has also invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the upcoming event.
PM Imran's visit to Riyadh will follow a successful tour of China. Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Planning Minister Khusro Bakhtiar and Chairman Board of Investment Zubair Gilani accompanied the premier on his visit to Beijing.
The prime minister met the Chinese leadership and exchanged views on regional developments, including the state of peace and security in South Asia arising from the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.
Also read: Trump says Pakistan-India tensions 'less heated' now, repeats mediation offer
During his visit, Prime Minister Imran Khan held wide-ranging bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Chief of the Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed were also present during the meeting.
Prime Minister Imran Khan also held a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Both leaders discussed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, the regional situation, and matters of mutual interest.
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