Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia, PM Shehbaz assures Saudi FM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday assured Pakistan’s full and unwavering solidarity and support for Saudi Arabia during a meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud.

The Saudi foreign minister called on the premier at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad following meetings of foreign ministers from four regional countries — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt — to discuss the evolving regional situation amid the US-Israel and Iran conflict.

According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on X, PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Kingdom.

“PM Shehbaz appreciated the remarkable restraint exercised by Saudi Arabia amid the current crisis and assured the Saudi foreign minister that Pakistan would always stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia,” the statement read.

The PMO said the prime minister recalled his recent conversations with the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, including their meeting in Jeddah on March 12, and shared Pakistan’s extensive diplomatic outreach during the current crisis, including mediation efforts aimed at de-escalating tensions and bringing both the US and Iran to the negotiating table.

The statement further said the premier emphasised the Kingdom’s leadership role in the Muslim Ummah and stressed the need to forge unity among Islamic countries at this critical time.

On the occasion, the Saudi foreign minister “thanked the prime minister for receiving him and shared with him the latest Saudi perspective on the regional situation.”

The PMO statement added that “Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also agreed to continue to coordinate their positions closely in order to secure peace and stability in the region.”

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“During the meeting, PM Shehbaz conveyed his respectful regards for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and greetings for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” it said.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi welcomed the Saudi foreign minister at the PM House in Islamabad.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with National Security Adviser and Director General of the Inter-Services Intelligence Lieutenant General Muhammad Asim Malik, were also present at the meeting.