- CDF Munir, DPM Dar will accompany premier on visit: FO.
- Says PM will meet Saudi Crown Prince MBS during visit.
- Pak-Saudi leaders to discuss bilateral ties, regional matters: FO.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir will undertake an official visit to Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8 to discuss bilateral relations and regional developments, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed on Thursday.
Speaking at the weekly media briefing, FO spokesperson 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.
“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.
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.
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.
2026-08-06 12:22:00
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