Pakistan not to join anti-Iran alliance

Pakistan has decided against taking sides in the emerging situation involving Iran and other Middle East countries at least for now, said a senior government functionary.

"Pakistan won't rush to join the anti-Iran alliance that is being forged," Dawn Sunday quoted the official as saying.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia last week on what the government described as a special invitation from Saudi King Salman Bin Abulaziz.

The invitation was part of diplomatic consultations Riyadh started in view of the evolving situation.

King Salman's discussions with Sharif centred on Saudi concerns about Tehran's expanding influence in the region, said the official.

Other Muslim leaders that the King met over the past few weeks include the presidents of Palestine, Egypt and Turkey, the Jordanian king, the emirs of Kuwait and Qatar, and the UAE leader.

The government, after evaluating the pros and cons, decided on staying neutral and playing the "role of a unifier", the official said.

"We cannot afford to involve ourselves in the disputes among the Muslim countries," he said.