Pakistan’s prime minister and army chief visit Saudi Arabia as bilateral coordination grows

Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir are visiting Saudi Arabia from Thursday to Saturday. Islamabad said the visit carries significance beyond current developments and short-term considerations.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andarabi stated that the visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, but reflects broader dimensions than the present crisis. He emphasized that it marks a new stage in ongoing consultations between the two countries.

This is Shehbaz Sharif’s third visit to Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the American-Iranian war in the region in late February. He previously visited the Kingdom twice within a month, accompanied by the Chief of Army Staff and the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister.

The first visit took place on March 12, followed by a second on April 14, leading a high-level delegation as part of a tour that also included Qatar and Turkey.

This trip also marks the eighth round of consultations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, following seven rounds held last month, which included a visit by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to Saudi Arabia at the beginning of last month.

The statement noted that Saudi Arabia’s announcement last week of appointing Dr. Rajeh Al-Buqami as its ambassador to Pakistan reflects the increasing pace of coordination and consultation between the two countries on both political and security levels.