ISLAMABAD: Defense minister Khawaja Asif has cancelled a planned trip to Tehran, apparently due to Iran’s tension with Saudi Arabia – a key ally of Pakistan, the Times of India reported on Jan 16, 2016.

Asif was scheduled to travel to Tehran on a two-day visit from Monday for promoting defense ties between the two countries, the Dawn reported.
According to the paper, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif directed the cancellation of the trip.
Citing a defense ministry official, it said that the trip had been cancelled. But the official did not assign any reason for the decision.
Another official, on the condition of anonymity, said that the decision could be related to tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia.
Saudi foreign minister and defense minister made back-to-back trips to Pakistan last week to put pressure on Islamabad to join 34-nation alliance against terrorism and seek support over Kingdom’s row with Iran.
Pakistan has promised to stand by Saudi Arabia if it faced threat of territorial instability.