THIS is in reference to Saudi Arabia’s initiative to establish the world’s third largest oil refinery in Balochistan. It has potential to add tension to the conflict in the region by allowing a Saudi foothold in the province — a few kilometres away from Iran.

Involving the Saudis in Balochistan could have serious implications for Pakistan. I would like to know if the government has taken the provincial stakeholders and assembly into confidence. The federal government needs to do a comprehensive risk and political analysis before signing anything.

Bakhtiar Azeem

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2018