Aug 22, 2011

Balancing Saudi Arabia and Iran

            Pakistan President Mr Asif Zardari attempted to play a very difficult balancing act, juggling between two regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. Thus he visited both the countries, in fact Iran twice during the month and then also made a trip to Saudi Arabia to meet the top leadership there. It is reported that Iran’s Supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamanei told Pakistan’s president that the United States is Pakistan’s real enemy. Before the visit to Iran, Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Abdul Aziz Ibrahim Al-Ghadeer met President Asif Ali Zardari. President Zardari has been assured by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of full support but to what degree the same will come remains to be seen as the media report is an official release by the government agency. Never the less this will give Islamabad some assurance in the wake of a possible difficulty particularly economic in the days ahead.  Iran has also given it a guarantee on the energy front.

            What Mr Zardari is up to remains to be seen. Is he acting as a go between the two regional rivals locked in a conflict of interests even as the Arab Spring is underway or is he going to sustain only Pakistan’s interests? If Mr Zardari is playing for larger game he would have had some interaction with the United States as well, thus the bilateral or trilateral vis a vis relationship with the Arab revolts would have to be seen in perspective. Islamabad is also sending a message to Washington that it has got other options.