Pakistan PM departs for Saudi Arabia amid Middle East tensions

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Saudi Arabia on Thursday for an official visit at a time of intense tensions in the Middle East, officials said, as clashes linked to a broader Iran‑US-Israel conflict continue to shake the region.

The war began on Feb. 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on multiple targets in Iran, triggering Iranian missile and drone reprisals across the Gulf and drawing in allied states

Sharif is visiting the kingdom at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, the Prime Minister’s Office said, with talks expected to focus on the escalating regional security situation.

During the visit, Sharif is expected to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional stability, security cooperation, and ways to strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, according to the PMO.

The trip follows a visit by Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, to Saudi Arabia on March 7, where he met Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman. The discussions centered on Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and measures to address escalating regional threats.

Prince Khalid said the talks reviewed the strikes in the context of strategic defense cooperation and highlighted the need to counter such actions, warning that they pose a threat to regional stability. He also urged Iran to “exercise wisdom and avoid miscalculation.”

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia maintain close defense and security ties, including military cooperation and economic support. Riyadh has long been a key provider of financial assistance and energy supplies to Islamabad.

In September last year, Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signed a strategic mutual defense agreement, pledging that an attack on either country would be treated as aggression against both, underscoring the depth of the two countries’ security partnership.