Saudi Arabia pushing alliance against Iran
The Nation- Saudi Arabia is trying to persuade other Muslim countries, including Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and central Asian states, to form an informal alliance directed against Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday, citing unidentified officials.
But the newspaper said US officials are concerned that this may increase sectarian tensions in the region. Prince Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, who heads the Saudi National Security Council, asked Pakistani generals in March to support the intervention in Bahrain, the Journal said, citing Pakistani, Saudi and US officials.
The prince told the generals that the US shouldn’t be counted on to restore stability in the Middle East or safeguard Pakistan’s interests in south Asia, the newspaper said. Saudi officials said their campaign was broad. "There are many elements of this initiative," a Saudi official was quoted as saying. "All the major Muslim states are willing to commit to this issue if need be and asked by Saudi leadership." Similarly, a dispatch in Friday's New York Times said that Saudi Arabia is flexing its financial and diplomatic might across the Middle East in a bid to avert the overthrow of any more leaders struggling to calm turbulent countries.
The Wall Street Journal also cited the Saudi official as saying that any potential Pakistani troops could be integrated into the 4,000-man force of mostly Saudi soldiers that deployed to Bahrain in March to defend the ruling Khalifa family against the popular domestic uprising against its rule. But Saudi officials said the current force is adequate, and no formal request for troops has yet been made.
The military intervention was invited by Bahrain's Sunni monarchy, which accused Iran of driving the protest movement, The Wall Street Journal said.
But the newspaper said US officials are concerned that this may increase sectarian tensions in the region. Prince Bandar bin Sultan al Saud, who heads the Saudi National Security Council, asked Pakistani generals in March to support the intervention in Bahrain, the Journal said, citing Pakistani, Saudi and US officials.
The prince told the generals that the US shouldn’t be counted on to restore stability in the Middle East or safeguard Pakistan’s interests in south Asia, the newspaper said. Saudi officials said their campaign was broad. "There are many elements of this initiative," a Saudi official was quoted as saying. "All the major Muslim states are willing to commit to this issue if need be and asked by Saudi leadership." Similarly, a dispatch in Friday's New York Times said that Saudi Arabia is flexing its financial and diplomatic might across the Middle East in a bid to avert the overthrow of any more leaders struggling to calm turbulent countries.
The Wall Street Journal also cited the Saudi official as saying that any potential Pakistani troops could be integrated into the 4,000-man force of mostly Saudi soldiers that deployed to Bahrain in March to defend the ruling Khalifa family against the popular domestic uprising against its rule. But Saudi officials said the current force is adequate, and no formal request for troops has yet been made.
The military intervention was invited by Bahrain's Sunni monarchy, which accused Iran of driving the protest movement, The Wall Street Journal said.