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Title Saudi-Arabia Iran Rivalry: Implications for Pakistan's Foreign Policy (2015-2021)

Author(s) Kashaf Arshad

Abstract Saudi-Arabia and Iran holds a non-cordial history of relationship since cold war. Their relationship was not only based on theological differences (sectarian) but they also had geopolitical concerns including the leadership role in the region, oil politics, bilateral grievances, multi-ethnicity, Arab vs Persian dominance, and differences to pursue interests with regional and international actors. Their confrontation had engulfed the other Middle Eastern countries into regional politics and the intensification of proxy wars like in Yemen, Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Whereas, the Saudi-Iran hostility had influenced the regional politics, it also had implications for the neighbouring states. The Iranian revolution of 1979 further created a divide between the two countries as the influence of Islamic Revolution started exporting to other regional countries to which Saudi-Arabia was apprehensive. The two regional power houses had pushed the neighbouring nations into a variety of partnerships. Pakistan, being a neighbour of Iran and a close-ally with Saudi Arabia had caught into a paradox of balancing its relationship with both the countries. In contrast to regional political perspectives, Pakistan's foreign policy toward Iran and Saudi Arabia remains critical, including the high stakes of major powers in the Middle East, creating less room for Pakistan to follow an independent foreign policy and simultaneously maintaining close ties with Iran and Saudi Arabia. This research focuses upon examining the deeper understanding of Saudi-Iran rivalry and its causes that led to a complex security environment in the Middle East. This research dissertation is a case study of Pakistan, which analyses the implications of Confrontational Saudi-Iran relations on Pakistan and its foreign policy. This research argues that Pakistan faced a critical scenario vis à-vis its relationship with Shiite-Iran and Sunni-Wahabi Saudi-Arabia that posed a threat of sectarian violence in Pakistan. Pakistan’s population was polarized in Shiite and Sunni sects that remain vulnerable to sectarian violence in the country. Similarly, owing to weak economic structure, Pakistan remains close to Saudi-Arabia for financial and military support. It enchanted Iran from Pakistan that have consequences for Pakistan’s security on the western border with Afghanistan. Likewise, Pakistan was energy deficient country. Both Pakistan and Iran would had built a strong bilateral cooperation in energy sector. But Saudi Arabia influenced by western inclination remain subversive to Pak-Iran cooperation. In the prism of Regional Security Complex Theory (RSCT) Complex economic, strategic and political issues were examined through actions taken by Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan in various regional contexts. Keywords: Saudi-Arabia. Iran, Middle East, Foreign Policy

Type Thesis/Dissertation MS

Faculty Social Sciences

Department International Relations

Language English

Publication Date 2024-05-23

Subject International Relations

Publisher NA

Contributor(s) NA

Format Chicago 16th Edition

Identifier NA

Source NA

Relation NA

Coverage NA

Rights NA

Category NA

Description