MAKKAH:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday agreed to further elevate the strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia “in accordance with the shared vision of the leadership and aspirations of the brotherly people of the two countries”.
Both the leaders also reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening the multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, according to an official statement.
Shehbaz, who had arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, met with the Saudi crown prince in Makkah, a day after the conclusion of Hajj. The PM was accompanied by a high-level delegation including Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Minister for Interior Syed Mohsin Naqvi.
Prime Minister Shehbaz extended warm Eid greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and commended the kingdom’s hospitality and service to the pilgrims from around the world who are in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
He expressed gratitude for the remarkable efforts of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince in ensuring a safe and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience.
He expressed appreciation for the Kingdom’s proactive role during recent tensions between Pakistan and India, and its steadfast commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Shehbaz underscored Pakistan’s policy of responsible restraint in the face of Indian aggression, emphasizing that sustainable peace in South Asia is achievable only through dialogue.
The two leaders also held detailed discussions on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza.
They stressed the imperative for the international community to fulfill its moral and legal obligations and reiterated their unwavering support for a just and durable resolution to the Palestinian question, grounded in the Arab Peace Initiative and the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed satisfaction on the growing momentum of bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and security domains. The meeting reaffirmed the deep-rooted, strategic, and fraternal ties between Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The PM extended a cordial invitation to the crown prince to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience, which the prince graciously accepted.
