PM Shehbaz, CDF Munir to hold talks with Saudi crown prince amid Gulf tensions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia from Thursday (today) to Saturday, during which he will hold talks with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman on strengthening bilateral ties and reviewing regional and international developments, the Foreign Office said.

According to the Foreign Office, the prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir and federal ministers.

The Foreign Office said Dar would join the delegation from Madinah after concluding his visit to Jordan, where he attended the ministerial meeting on Jerusalem.

During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz and Crown Prince MbS are expected to discuss ways to further consolidate Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations, deepen strategic cooperation, and exchange views on key regional and global issues of mutual interest.

The Foreign Office said the visit reflects the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, built on decades of mutual trust, cooperation, and brotherhood.

It added that although the visit comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, it carries significance beyond the immediate regional situation and is expected to reinforce bilateral relations, enhance coordination on regional and international issues, and strengthen multilateral cooperation between the two countries.

On July 30, DPM Dar spoke with Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. During the telephonic conversation, both sides exchanged views on regional and international developments.

They also discussed recent developments in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb.