ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif’s upcoming visit to Iran has been cancelled, a senior diplomatic source said on Friday.

Mr Asif was scheduled to travel to Tehran on a two-day visit from Monday (Jan 18) for promoting defence ties between the two countries. According to the source, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the cancellation of the trip. A defence ministry official, talking to Dawn, confirmed that the trip had been cancelled. But the official did not assign any reason for the decision.

Another official who did not want to say anything on the record was of the opinion that the decision could be related to tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2016