ISLAMABAD/BEIJING: Pakistan has assured the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that it will always stand firmly with the Kingdom and work alongside it to advance their shared pursuit of regional peace. The commitment came during a restricted meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Jeddah on Thursday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times. Both leaders had an in-depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the region and agreed to work together for regional peace and stability. Shehbaz assured MBS that Pakistan would always stand firmly with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and strive for their mutual desire for peace in the region.
At the outset, the prime minister conveyed his regards and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and expressed profound appreciation for the Kingdom’s longstanding support to Pakistan. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present.
Earlier, the PM arrived in Jeddah on Thursday on a brief official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The prime minister will have a brief stay in the kingdom and will return to Pakistan after holding a meeting with the Saudi crown prince, a PM Office news release said.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar accompanied the prime minister.
Upon arrival at the Royal Terminal of Jeddah International Airport, the prime minister was received by Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of the Makkah region. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq, Consul General in Jeddah Syed Mustafa Rabbani and other diplomatic officials were also present to welcome him.
During the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the two leaders are expected to hold detailed discussions on the regional situation, regional security dynamics and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
This visit highlights Pakistan’s positive and active role in diplomacy on the international stage, and the country will continue to play this constructive role.
At his weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi told the media that the prime minister’s visit to Saudi Arabia was part of the coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on matters of regional peace and security and ending violence and hostilities.
He said that the visit should also be seen in the broader context of Pakistan’s efforts to advocate and facilitate an early cessation of hostilities and violence in the region with the aim of paving the way for dialogue and diplomacy.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported quoting three Pakistani government officials that Chinese mediation efforts, including a message from President Xi Jinping, have helped ease the worst fighting between Pakistan and Afghanistan since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. The officials said a meeting between the Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif late last month included a message from Xi to cease hostilities.
Neither side has reported any Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan in recent days and ground fighting along the 2,600-km (1,600-mile) border has tapered off, although daily clashes continue to be reported.
China has said it is in contact with both countries about ending hostilities but Mosharraf Zaidi, a spokesman for PM Shehbaz who has previously said there would not be any talks with the Taliban, did not respond to questions about Beijing’s efforts.
Pakistani security officials have said the military campaign will continue until desired goals were achieved, which was to prevent militant attacks in Pakistan launched from Afghan soil.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry and military did not respond to Reuters requests for comment.
Islamabad launched air strikes on Afghanistan on February 26, saying the Taliban were providing a safe haven to militants carrying out attacks in Pakistan. Kabul denies the charge and says militancy in Pakistan is an internal problem.
The Chinese efforts came as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Turkey, who hosted talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan during previous clashes in October, have been embroiled in the war in the Middle East following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
“China’s Special Envoy for Afghanistan Affairs is currently shuttling between the two countries to mediate, while Chinese embassies in both nations maintain close communication with the respective parties,” the Chinese foreign ministry told Reuters in an e-mail.
“The most urgent task is to prevent the fighting from expanding and for the two countries to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible.”
The foreign ministry added that Foreign Minister Wang Yi held telephone talks with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday to discuss the conflict.
China’s Ambassador to Kabul, Zhao Xing, and the special envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi this week, the Afghan foreign ministry said in a statement.
Beijing, a longtime Pakistani ally, has invested heavily in mines and minerals in both nations.
The investments include over $65 billion in road, rail and other development projects in Pakistan, part of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative to expand land and sea trade routes to Europe and Africa.
