Since the Iranian revolution, the relationships between Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been rocky and hostile, reaching their nadir when a Shia cleric Bakir al-Nimr, a Saudi, was executed and in retaliation, the Iranians attacked the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Tehran.
Relentlessly waged by both KSA and Iran, the proxy wars in Yemen, Syria and Lebanon have had a heavy and innocent human toll, along with billions of dollars being wasted and poured into these useless wars. The region has been a powder-keg for a long time which needs to be addressed. Where war has been destructive, unhindered dialogue can have miraculous results.
Perhaps in this connection, Crown Prince of KSA, Muhamad Bin Salman, in an interview given to a private TV channel, has desired to have a good and special relationship with Iran which has been reciprocated almost in the same vein by the latter. If both nations want to open the door of dialogue to hammer out their issues peacefully, that will be a phenomenal service to the Muslims around the world, as Muslims are pointlessly divided into Sunni-Shia lines.
Besides, the cordial relationships between Iran and KSA can have healthy and tremendous results for Pakistan. Their mutual rivalry has endangered many. As an interlocutor, Pakistan can also play its role in creating bonhomie between both brotherly nations.
It is therefore high time that both countries buried the hatchet and turned over a new leaf.
RIAZ AHMED SOOMRO,
Shikarpur.
