Pakistan has said it will examine the proposal put forward by Iran regarding the formation of a naval alliance in the Indian Ocean aimed at ensuring collective maritime security, according to media reports.
Iran’s naval chief, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, had proposed the alliance comprising Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, India and Pakistan, The Express Tribune reported.
“We have seen that statement and will look at any proposal as it relates to Pakistan. At this time, we are not in a position to comment on a statement that has been made,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said.
The proposal, if executed, will be one of the most important regional security initiatives after the China-brokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March this year. China may reportedly have an important role to play in the proposed maritime alliance, The Express Tribune reported.
China has become a key player in Middle East politics after brokering a landmark deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
Meanwhile, the spokesman said Pakistan will abide by its laws and international obligations while dealing with the cases of those responsible for the May 9 violence.
In response to a question about the US Department of State’s request to provide consular access to a suspect in the May 9 vandalism, Khadija Shah, and requests regarding other dual nationals who have been detained , the spokesman said that the applications have been received and sent to the Home Office.
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(Only the headline and image in this report may have been modified by Business Standard staff; all other content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
First posted: June 09, 2023 | 18:16 IS
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