Pakistan PM, Saudi crown prince discuss regional tensions, bilateral ties in Jeddah

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised Saudi Arabia’s “exemplary patience and restraint” under the leadership of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during talks in Jeddah on Thursday, where both sides discussed regional security developments and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, according to an official statement.

Sharif, on an official visit to the kingdom, held nearly two hours of talks with the Saudi crown prince, focusing on the evolving regional situation and avenues for closer cooperation. He was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

During the meeting, Sharif expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid heightened tensions in the region and conveyed condolences over the loss of lives, saying the people of Pakistan stood “shoulder to shoulder” with the kingdom.

He also commended the Saudi leadership’s response to the crisis, praising what he described as restraint and calibrated decision-making under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Sharif briefed the crown prince on Pakistan’s recent diplomatic outreach aimed at easing tensions, including efforts linked to a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and talks hosted in Islamabad. The Saudi leader welcomed Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue and de-escalation, the statement said.

On bilateral relations, Sharif thanked Saudi Arabia for its continued economic support and underscored the longstanding strategic partnership between the two countries, spanning defense and economic cooperation.

Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to close coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest.

Earlier, Sharif arrived in Jeddah with a high-level delegation and was received by Prince Saud bin Mashaal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Makkah region, along with Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Pakistan and Pakistan’s envoy to the kingdom.

Senior officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and foreign policy aide Tariq Fatemi, are also part of the delegation.

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 2025, PM Sharif and Saudi crown prince signed a strategic mutual defense agreement, pledging that an attack on either country would be treated as aggression against both, underscoring the depth of their security partnership.