Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir have arrived in Saudi Arabia on a three-day official visit amid rising tensions in West Asia. The visit comes as the conflict in the region has spread across multiple fronts, including the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, pushing Gulf states to step up security coordination.
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Sharif is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman during the visit. Pakistan said the talks will focus on strengthening bilateral ties and exchanging views on regional and international developments, while the visit also comes against the backdrop of Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to bring the US and Iran back to negotiations under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 18.
Sharif was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz and other senior Saudi officials. Besides Munir, the delegation includes Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who has just concluded a visit to Jordan, will also join the delegation in Saudi Arabia.
In a statement, Pakistan’s Foreign Office said: “During the visit, the prime minister will meet Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman. Discussions would focus on consolidating the Pakistan-Saudi bilateral relationship and exchange views on areas of regional and international developments of mutual interests.” It said the visit reflected Pakistan’s long-standing partnership with Saudi Arabia, rooted in decades of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood.
The Foreign Office also said: “Although taking place amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit carries significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations. It will further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest and also reinforce multilateral cooperation.” Sharif had earlier visited Saudi Arabia in April, when he held talks with the kingdom’s top leadership.
Last week, Saudi Arabia proposed a Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition to protect commercial shipping lanes and critical energy supply routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait after Saudi ships came under attack from Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. According to reports, 14 countries, including Pakistan, backed the proposal, underlining concerns over the security of the maritime corridor. Islamabad also reiterated its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and stressed the need to ensure the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia further expanded defence ties last year by signing a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, which became operational this year. Under this framework, Pakistan has deployed military personnel and aircraft to Saudi Arabia for joint training, defence cooperation and the kingdom’s security needs. Saudi Arabia also remains important for Pakistan’s economy, with a provisional foreign economic assistance report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs saying the kingdom extended a fresh loan of USD 3 billion in deposits and also rolled over the USD 5 billion facility for another three years in 2025-26.
The visit by Sharif and Munir brings together Pakistan’s political, diplomatic and military leadership at a time of regional uncertainty, with discussions expected to cover bilateral ties, security cooperation and wider developments in West Asia.
With PTI Inputs
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
