PM Shehbaz arrives in Saudi Arabia as Middle East conflict rages on

• PM will meet Saudi Crown Prince MBS during visit, says FO.
• Pak-Saudi leaders to discuss bilateral ties, regional matters: FO.
  
• Visit important for promoting regional peace: FO spokesperson.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Saudi Arabia on Thursday on an official visit at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

The prime minister is accompanied by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi.

Makkah’s Deputy Governor Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz and Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley received Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Pakistani delegation upon their arrival in Jeddah.

Speaking at the weekly media briefing earlier today, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said PM Shehbaz will undertake an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8 to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments.

“PM Shehbaz will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the visit,” the FO said, adding that the talks would focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

He said the delegation would also include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently in Saudi Arabia after concluding a visit to Jordan

The FO added that the talks would focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia bilateral relations and exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.

The spokesperson said the visit is important for promoting regional peace, diplomatic cooperation and a shared strategy for stability.

Pakistan, he added, continued its diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Middle East and support the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The Foreign Office later issued an official statement detailing the PM Shehbaz’s Saudi Arabia visit.

The FO spokesperson said that Oman had consistently played a positive and constructive role in promoting peace, stability and de-escalation in the region.

“We hope that the agreement on the Strait will pave the way for continuing dialogue, particularly the resumption of technical-level talks between Iran and the United States,” he added.

The spokesperson also highlighted recent diplomatic engagements by DPM Dar, including telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on July 30, and with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, during which the situation in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab, Palestine and the wider Middle East was discussed. He added that Dar had invited the Iranian foreign minister to visit Pakistan.

While replying to a question, he said the National Assembly Secretariat would be in a better position to confirm whether an invitation had also been extended to the Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

The spokesperson said Dar represented Pakistan at a ministerial meeting on Jerusalem in Jordan, where Pakistan reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

He said the deputy premier also held meetings with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Turkiye, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq and Somalia, while the fifth meeting of the R4 foreign ministers comprising Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye reaffirmed support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights and stressed close coordination to promote peace, stability and de-escalation in the region.

He added that senior officials’ talks and a Joint Trade Committee meeting between Pakistan and Australia resulted in an agreement to enhance political, trade, economic and security cooperation, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral partnership.

While replying to a question on Bangladesh, Andrabi declined to comment on remarks made by Bangladesh’s former prime minister, saying Pakistan had no position on Bangladesh’s domestic political developments.

On the situation in Gaza, the spokesperson said lasting peace required both Hamas’ disarmament and Israel’s withdrawal from occupied areas. He said Israel was obliged to fulfil its international responsibilities and withdraw from Gaza.

Responding to a question on the possible deployment of an international peacekeeping force in Gaza, Andrabi said it is premature to discuss the issue. He added that Pakistan would review any formal proposal if one is presented.

FO slams India’s remarks on AJK polls

On the Kashmir dispute, the spokesperson said Pakistan reiterated its condemnation of India’s August 5, 2019 actions in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). 

The FO spokesperson also rejected India’s statements regarding the elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, adding that India had neither the moral nor legal standing to comment on the democratic process in AJK while continuing to commit human rights violations in the occupied territory.

Andrabi said: “Pakistan rejects India’s baseless and politically motivated comments on the ongoing Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections.”

He added: “The elections in AJK are being conducted in a peaceful, transparent and orderly manner in accordance with the constitutional and legal framework governing the region.”

FO urges Kabul to end support for TTP

FO spokesperson renewed his call for Afghanistan to prevent its territory from being used for terrorist activities against Pakistan, saying the elimination of militant safe havens and facilitators remained essential for improving bilateral relations.

“The use of Afghan soil for terrorism against Pakistan must stop,” he said.

The spokesperson said Pakistan and the United States viewed the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a common threat.

He said Pakistan did not oppose international humanitarian or economic assistance to Afghanistan but urged donor countries to ensure that financial assistance did not reach terrorist organisations.

“Donor countries should verify that their assistance is not used by the TTP or any other terrorist groups,” Andrabi said, adding that “terror financing, regardless of its source, must end immediately.”