Saudi FM visits Pakistan

Saudi Arabia's foreign minister arrived in Pakistan yesterday, where he will meet leaders of a government keen to defuse spiraling sectarian tension between the Sunni-majority kingdom and Shia Iran.

Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shia cleric on Saturday has inflamed tension across the Middle East and infuriated Iran, Riyadh's main rival in the region.

Several of Saudi Arabia's Sunni allies have broken diplomatic ties with Iran after demonstrators ransacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran.

Pakistan, which has a large Shia minority, has sought to avoid taking sides as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tries to stem sectarian violence at home and boost economic ties with both Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir was due to meet Sharif, his foreign affairs adviser Sartaj Aziz, and army chief General Raheel Sharif later yesterday.

Pakistan's foreign ministry said a joint news conference with Al-Jubeir set for yesterday had been canceled, citing a delay in his arrival for the two-day visit.

Aziz, Sharif's foreign affairs adviser, said that Pakistan was a friend of both Saudi Arabia and Iran, and would seek to heal the rift between them during al-Jubeir's visit.

"Pakistan has called for resolution of differences through peaceful means in the larger interest of Muslim unity in these challenging times," Aziz told parliament on Tuesday.

The visit comes after Pakistan last month distanced itself from an anti-Islamic State coalition announced by Saudi Arabia, which had named Pakistan as a member.