Trump after Saudi dollars/ huge turnout in Iran votes admirable: Pak analyst

In an exclusive interview with IRNA, Lieutenant General (retired) Talat Masood said that active participation of the people in elections also shows that people are interested to play their own role in decision making process of the country.

The analyst went on to say that Iranians re-elected Rouhani because they thought he was moderate and a very balanced leader and it is in the interest of Iran to re-elect him.

He noted that at a time when Iran is facing pressure from certain powers and has issues with some regional states, Iranians think that Rouhani with his experience should lead Iran at this very point of time.

“People have reposed confidence in him and they thought he was the most suitable candidate. I think the people had made a very good judgment,” viewed the expert.

Responding a question on the recently held Arab-US summit in Riyadh, Talat Masood said that the message from US summit in Riyadh is that Trump has assured Saudi Arabia that he is behind policies of the country which are in convergence with the interests of the US. “The policies of the US and Saudi Arabia converge in the Middle East,” he pointed out.

He said the US is interested in its defense industry and its economy keep unning. “When they find Saudi Arabia with its huge amount of petrodollars interested in buying weapons, the Americans also try to sell weapons as much as they could,” he added.

The retired general said Americans have been selling weapons in conflict-ridden area, but Saudis are not in a position to use this latest technology or weapons system effectively. 'It is a reward to US for supporting them and also an easy way for Trump to improve the US economy.'

The analyst expressing his views said for Pakistan it was a difficult policy decision to participate in the summit, because 'we have very close and strategic relationship with Saudi Arabia, but at the same time we want very good relations with Iran.'

He added previously Pakistan was thinking that it could play a conciliatory role, but I don’t think that is possible because their (Saudi Arabia and some Arab countries) policy is very deliberate and they are not going to be influenced by any country like Pakistan.

To another question on Iran-Pakistan ties, the analyst said this is true that major things are not happing on the ground in Iran-Pakistan ties and there are several reasons for that.

He said sanctions against Iran are one of the problems and that is why Pakistan government is really scared that if they undertake gas or any other contract with Iran, the US will impose sanctions on them.

“There is also a lobby in Pakistan which is probably not very keen to develop closer economic and political relations with Iran, but people of Pakistan and many major political parties like Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and even the people among ruling Pakistan Muslim League-N might want to have close relations with Iran and want Pakistan to play a conciliatory role between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” said the analyst.

To a question on Pakistan-US ties, the analyst added that Pakistan should not have much expectation from the US. “The US Congress is hostile towards Pakistan and I think days are over for economic assistance, but this is good for Pakistan in the sense that Pakistan will become self reliant and could follow more independent policies. We might have to face hardships, but it is the best thing that US can do for us. It would compel the government to stand upon its own feet,” he noted.

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