Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and conveyed Pakistan’s ‘full solidarity’ with Saudi Arabia, as tensions in West Asia continue to intensify.
The meeting took place after Sharif made a hurried trip to Saudi Arabia amid the worsening regional situation, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office and shared early Friday on X by the prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, it was stated that he had held a restricted meeting with the Saudi crown prince in Jeddah.
“The Prime Minister expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times,” the statement said.
Both leaders also held an in-depth exchange of views on the evolving regional situation and agreed to work together to promote peace and stability. Sharif assured the Saudi leadership that Pakistan would stand firmly with the kingdom and support efforts aimed at ensuring peace across the region.
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According to the statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Syed Asim Munir were also present during the meeting.
The visit comes at a time when Pakistan’s position has drawn attention due to its defence agreement with Saudi Arabia. Both countries signed a mutual defence pact in September last year, committing to support each other if either nation is attacked by a third country. The agreement was concluded after Israel carried out strikes against Hamas leaders in Doha.
However, the regional dynamics shifted after the United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran. Tehran retaliated and has since targeted sites across the Gulf, raising concerns about the broader security situation.
The developments have also sparked debate about whether Pakistan would honour its defence commitments to Saudi Arabia, given its friendly relations and geographical proximity to Iran.
Earlier this week, Zaidi said Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia ‘before it is needed’. During the meeting, Sharif also conveyed his respectful regards and best wishes to Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s longstanding support for Pakistan.
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