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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan disapproved on Monday a mob attack on Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Tehran, which sparked a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Arab countries.
“The attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, which is against international norms, is most unfortunate and deeply regrettable,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
It said: “It is the responsibility of states to provide full safety and security to all diplomatic missions and their personnel.”
Protesters agitating against execution of Shia scholar Sheikh Nimr Baqir Al-Nimr by Saudi Arabia had on Sunday ransacked and set on fire Kingdom’s embassy in Tehran.
The statement comes ahead of a Jan 7 visit by Saudi Foreign Minister Adel Jubeir to Islamabad. He was to previously visit Islamabad on Sunday, but postponed the visit at the eleventh hour following escalation with Iran.
There were rumours that Pakistan was also exploring options about downgrading its diplomatic relationship with Iran.
After repeated attempts, the FO spokesman replied: “I will not comment on rumours and speculations.”
Relations between Islamabad and Tehran are already lukewarm because of the Saudi factor.
There have been protests in Pakistan against the execution of the Shia cleric. But the FO has avoided commenting on the development that led to escalation of tensions between the two rivals.
A scheduled Jan 18 trip by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif to Tehran, according to a diplomatic source, has become uncertain following the tiff between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Published in Dawn, January 5th, 2016
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Comments (40) Closed
Jan 05, 2016 08:34am
The embassy attack was very unfortunate and afainst international norms. Iran should act as a civilized country.
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Jan 05, 2016 08:38am
Pakistan should keep away with the escalation between Saudi and Iran
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Jan 05, 2016 08:50am
“The attack on the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, which is against international norms, is most unfortunate and deeply regrettable,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
How about the attack on a rights activist? Is that in accordance with the international norms, or even human values?
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Jan 05, 2016 08:56am
Can we please be a neutral country like we were in the situation?
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Jan 05, 2016 09:13am
Instead of severing diplomatic relations with Iran, Pakistan should act as mediator between the countries and try to bring them to discussion table....if they cannot do this then be neutral...#stupidity
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Jan 05, 2016 09:34am
Rather than following countries like Saudi, Iran and Turkey or being neutral, Pakistan should take leadership role in the Islamic world. It should do plain talking with these countries and make it clear that their politicking is hurting middle east.
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Jan 05, 2016 09:38am
Iran act like superpower, and interfere in many countries affairs, which is not good. OIC should condemn Iran.
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Jan 05, 2016 09:38am
The embassy attack shouldn't have happened. All countries in the world are bound by UN conventions, where host countries have a responsibility to protect embassies of other countries and it's staff. This incident is deplorable. At the same time Pakistan is a sovereign nation and should take sovereign decisions in her own interest and in the interest of Muslim world. Pakistan shall remain neutral and instead play its positive role to bridge gap between both countries. Iranians should let go hostile tactics by waging greater Persia theory on the world. It's a 21st century world with nukes in hand. Nothing will be achieved by playing with fire.
Peace , Pakistan Zindabad
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Jan 05, 2016 09:44am
Pakistan should try its maximum to defuse the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia otherwise its flames might engulf many other states. Middle east is already burning. This new conflict would be like a disaster to already destabilized peace in Arab-Asia
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Jan 05, 2016 09:58am
To condemn the attack on embassy is okay for Pakistan but to downgrade relations with Iran?? Why?
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Jan 05, 2016 10:07am
@khan we should try to understand the issue neutrally, as lot of innocent citizen have been lost their lives worldwide because of terrorism being supported by the royal families for the sake of their crown.
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Jan 05, 2016 10:14am
A very wise statement from FO of Pakistan. Attack on Embassy of any country is deplorable. Being neutral doesn't mean turning blind eye on these absurd acts.
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Jan 05, 2016 10:40am
Pak should keep away its nose from this proxy.
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Jan 05, 2016 11:05am
While condemnation of the attack on the Saudi Embassy and Consulate in Iran is justified because the government of Iran failed to provide protection which is its diplomatic responsibility, the downgrading of our relationship with Iran will be a foolish step against the interest of Pakistan. Iran is our neighbor as well as a natural trade and defense partner and it is in Pakistan's interest to develop and maintain a very close and friendly relationship with Iran.
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Jan 05, 2016 12:05pm
Good job FO, call spade a spade. No civilized country will ever attack an embassy. It is insane.
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Jan 05, 2016 12:08pm
UN to take notice of attacking Saudi Embassy in Iran
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Jan 05, 2016 12:51pm
@Haider the attack on Saudi embassy was done by non state elements, the Iranian state had nothing to do with it. Recognise this argument?
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Jan 05, 2016 01:04pm
Why hasn't Islamabad deplored the killings of some of the 47 killings in SA including that of the cleric? Stop deploring for the sake of deploring and be neutral
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Jan 05, 2016 01:10pm
Pakistan needs to decide which side to take. Which side will be helpful if there is a conflict between pakistan and India. Being neutral means neutral response.
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Jan 05, 2016 01:30pm
Pakistan should have also condemned the killing of prominent shia cleric which has caused this escalation
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Jan 05, 2016 02:20pm
It is nothing but power struggle between two governments and has nothing to do with religion,or any sect or any threat to Holy cities,although at least one is trying to make a sectarian issue which it is not. In reality they care very little about Ummah or Pakistan. The best option for the nation is to maintain absolute neutrality position otherwise it will cost direly in years to come.
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Jan 05, 2016 02:25pm
@Rizwan pakistan needs both but best is to stand on its own feet which Pakistan is fully capable of.
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Jan 05, 2016 02:55pm
Pakistan or any other country can't simply comment on Saudia's internal affairs of beheading 47 people on a single day but they can certainly condemn act of setting Saudi embassy ablaze, as this is the violation of international diplomatic rights.
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Jan 05, 2016 02:56pm
attacking embassy is not civilized & what about hanging innocents....?
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Jan 05, 2016 03:32pm
@Saleem You seem little detached from the worldly affairs, don't you? F.Y.I. Iran is the second largest executioner after China. Iran has executed around 1700 criminals from 2007-2012 while Saudia around 420. See the difference.
It is not about executing people as this is their country's law. USA is on 5th when it comes to criminal executions. Saudia executed 47 people because they were involved in the acts of terrorism and fight against state on its soil. They absolutely did the job right. Iran on the other hand violated international diplomatic laws and every country should cut their diplomatic ties with them as they have failed or fumed the mob to set embassy on fire. Hope this will suffice!
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Jan 05, 2016 03:33pm
@Navigator Because they've broken a very vital international law and allowed a foreign diplomatic mission to be attcked and set on fire. This is a very big deal indeed.
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Jan 05, 2016 03:33pm
The situation in middle east is alarming, however, Pakistan should remain impartial and shouldn't be involved in the power struggle of the two rival countries.
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Jan 05, 2016 04:08pm
Pakistan should weigh in its options and decide to safeguard its national interests. We have paid enough price for the romanticism of Ummah
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Jan 05, 2016 04:09pm
@Rizwan why do you pull India in this.., that shows your negative approach.
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Jan 05, 2016 04:24pm
Instead of indulging herself with middle east - Afghanistan etc, Pakistan should join gang of progress minded countries like India, South Africa, Brazil, China, Russia. We will show you how to remain neutral. Else each other year you have to decide which side to align which to not.
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Jan 05, 2016 04:32pm
Saudis are using embassy attack as an excuse to hide its crime.
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Jan 05, 2016 04:37pm
@Farrukh Kiani Sheikh Nimr was revered Shia scholar and Saudis executed him without fair trial. This is every right of justice seeking people to rise up against this maniac act.
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Jan 05, 2016 04:42pm
People here are more concerned about a building. Sheikh Nimr a highest rank scholar executed without giving him fair trial on false allegations. This is a injustice and every justice seeking people must condemn this criminal act.
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Jan 05, 2016 05:23pm
Iran should have protected the Saudi Embassy at every cost...For everyone's Information if there is a India Pakistan war Iran will side with India because it
is clearly now in the Indian block and jealous of Pakistan China Relations and CPEC.
Iran has to do a rethinking now and quickly whether it is on the side of Muslim unity
or else...
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Jan 05, 2016 05:31pm
@ Farrukh Kiani: so diplomatic rights are more important than human rights. When Asad was ruling his country the whole world including Saudi was worried about Syian people but what happened now; Nimr was a prominent speaker of the rights of 15% of Saudi population (shias are roughly 15% of Saudi population).
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Jan 05, 2016 05:33pm
Serving ties with Iran and follow lead of Saudis will be a grave mistake.
This is most probably not a rumor but something is cooking.
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Jan 05, 2016 09:31pm
@Farrukh Kiani , Prophet Mohammed (pbuh) a person is not a Muslim if he's not aware of other Muslims. What was Shikh Nimr's fault ? To criticize Corrupt Saudi Royals...and for that his neck was chopped...wake up brother.Taking side of oppressor will not take you to heaven. it's illogical and made up philosophy by bunch of historical brats.
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Jan 05, 2016 09:37pm
Torching an embassy is unjust... Accepted !!
But what about killing an innocent leader who is only voicing for minority rights?
If we compare above two bad deeds, I think second is most hated which KSA had done so far...
Why Pakistani officials is only condemning Iran ? Why not KSA ?
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Jan 05, 2016 10:05pm
@Philosopher (from Japan)
No thats not our constitution. we have to educate our neighbours.
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Jan 06, 2016 07:16am
I think Pakistan should stay neutral on whatever is happening in middle-east,
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