Thursday 14 January 2016 - 12:36
Story Code : 196819
Pakistan Senate dissatisfied with govt. briefing on Saudi-Iran conflict
Sartaj Aziz attended the Senate's closed session on Wednesday to answer the Pakistani senators questions about his comments on the issue of Iran-Saudi Arabia dispute.
The senators told IRNA that they have not been satisfied with the advisor's comments.
'Sartaj Aziz had nothing satisfactory except repeating the rhetoric, which were shared by the media in recent days,' said the senators.
Aziz had told the in-camera briefing that Pakistan has a neutral policy towards both Saudi Arabia and Iran, but at the same time hinted that in case of any territorial threat to Saudi Arabia, Pakistan would give a befitting response.
The retaliation from Pakistans side to stand by Saudi Arabia, according to some senators was isolating Iran, which is also a brotherly Muslim country.
However, to a question, the advisor made it clear that the government was making all-out efforts for finding a solution to the crisis between Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding Pakistans policy was neutral as it wanted an amicable solution to the crisis.
Not impressed with the in-camera briefing by the adviser, a number of senators said it was nothing but wastage of time, adding the intention of the government was quite clear it was not ready to take the House as well as the nation onboard on all important matters.
As a member of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Pakistan would continue to play its positive role on the issue, adding it would play the role of a bridge to improve relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Aziz said.
The briefing by Aziz prompted the Senate chairman Raza Rabbani to say, if you (advisor) had nothing new to say except what we have heard in the press, what was the need of giving an in-camera briefing.
But the advisor refused to compromise and left without interacting with the media after the briefing.
By IRNA
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