Pakistan’s Policy of Neutrality and Saudi Iranian Rivalry during the Syrian Crisis

Abstract

This research paper makes an attempt to find the Pakistan’s proclaimed position of neutrality during the period of escalated rivalry between Saudia Arabia and Iran in Syrian crises after Arab Spring 2011. If Pakistan managed to stay neutral, then how Pakistan maintains its policy of neutrality during the worst times in the region’s history. By using John Scott's model of Documentary Analysis, we explore the nature of rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran in Syrian crises. Syrian crisis presents a unique situation under which Pakistan’s neutral policy will be tested under extreme circumstances. From the perspective of the concept of neutrality, it is argued that Pakistan tried to maintain a strict neutral policy towards Syrian Crisis. Even over the Syrian military’s unverified use of chemical weapons, Pakistan powerfully condemned the United States’ decision to intervene in Syrian crisis against the Assad regime. Pakistan has also criticized other Western powers by stressing on the political solution of Syrian crisis, which shows a significant shift in Pakistan’s foreign policy to Western world. The goal of this research is to measure the scale of Pakistan’s neutrality by reviewing Pakistan’s position on Syrian Crisis.