PM Shehbaz departs for Saudi Arabia on ‘brief’ visit

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif landed in Saudi Arabia on Thursday for detailed deliberations on the situation in the Middle East with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

A statement on X by state broadcaster PTV News said the premier would stay in Saudi Arabia for a few hours and return after the meeting.

It said he was received at the Royal Terminal of Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport by Makkah Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz.

“There will be detailed discussions on the current situation in the region, the state of regional security, and bilateral relations. This visit highlights Pakistan’s positive role in the diplomatic arena, and Pakistan will continue to play this role,” the statement said on the expected meeting with the Saudi crown prince.

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Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said earlier that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also accompanying the premier on the visit.

The spokesperson added that the trip formed part of ongoing coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on matters related to regional peace and security.

He said the visit should also be seen as part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at paving the way for dialogue and diplomacy in the region.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Pakistan has reiterated its strong strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia while urging restraint to prevent a wider regional conflict. Yesterday, PM Shehbaz discussed the evolving situation during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing that dialogue and diplomatic engagement were essential to ensure peace, stability and de-escalation in the region.

At the same time, the prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, said Pakistan would firmly stand with Saudi Arabia if required, highlighting the depth of ties between the two countries. “The question is not whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia’s aid… we will. No matter what, no matter when,” he said, while adding that Islamabad was currently focused on preventing further escalation and ensuring key regional partners are not drawn deeper into the conflict.

Iran has responded to the US-Israeli strikes by launching waves of drone and missile attacks not only toward Israel but also at Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, hosting US military installations, dragging the region deeper into the conflict.

The escalation has hit key infrastructure, including airports, ports, hotels, and oil and military facilities across Gulf countries.

The attacks have also disrupted oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum and LNG, while airspace closures across the region have forced airlines to cancel around 40,000 flights, the largest disruption to global air travel since the Covid-19 pandemic.