PM Nawaz will not hold any bilateral meetings on sidelines of US-Arab-Islamic Summit: FO

FO spokesperson says agenda of the summit does not permit sideline bilateral meetings

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will not hold any bilateral meetings on the sidelines of US-Arab-Islamic Summit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday.

In response to media reports regarding PM Nawaz's possible bilateral meetings at the summit, FO spokesperson said, "The very full agenda of the half day summit, which is expected to have the participation of more than 35 leaders of the Islamic world as well as Secretary Generals of the OIC, Arab League and GCC, does not permit sideline bilateral meetings."



Earlier, Foreign Office officials confirmed to The Express Tribune that efforts were underway to arrange a maiden bilateral meeting between Trump and Nawaz at the sidelines of the summit. The meeting, if it takes place, will provide an opportunity to both sides to listen to each other’s perspective as well as concerns on a range of issues covering bilateral cooperation and current regional and international issues.

A senior Pakistani official, who requested not to be identified since he was not authorised to speak to the media, said the prime minister was already preparing a ‘brief’ for a possible interaction with the US president. The official said the ‘brief’ includes the country’s position on Afghanistan’s current situation and the way forward and current tensions with India. On both issues, officials here believe, the US administration can play a more proactive role in order to avoid regional countries pitting against each other for their strategic interests.



Since Trump formally took over as the US President in January, he has not yet explicitly spoken on Pakistan except that telephonic call with the prime minister. Officials here are encouraged by the fact that since four months into the office, the new US government has not given any negative statement on Pakistan.

US President Donald Trump arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, Saudi state television footage showed, the first stop on his maiden international trip since taking office in January.

PM Nawaz will leav for Saudi Arabia on Sunday on a two-day visit to attend the US-Arab-Islamic Summit in Riyadh. He is attending the moot on the invitation of Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud.

More than thirty five leaders of Islamic world as well as the Secretary Generals of the OIC, Arab League and Gulf Cooperation Council will attend the moot.