PM Shehbaz stresses dialogue, diplomacy for regional peace in call with Saudi crown prince

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday held a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, during which he stressed the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for preserving regional peace and stability, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

According to the statement, the conversation was held in a very warm and cordial atmosphere. During the call, PM Shehbaz conveyed his respectful regards and good wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as to the Crown Prince.

The prime minister thanked the Saudi crown prince for his warmth and affection towards Pakistan. “Both leaders reaffirmed their shared commitment to further strengthening of the long-standing fraternal bonds between both countries, that had attained new heights during recent months,” the statement added.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and current developments as PM Shehbaz emphasised the need to maintain unity and harmony among the ranks of the Ummah amid various challenges. He stressed that it was imperative to preserve regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy while expressing Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the Kingdom.

The crown prince thanked the prime minister for the call and reiterated the Kingdom’s desire to expand cooperation with Pakistan in all areas of mutual interest. He also expressed his intention to undertake an official visit to Pakistan in the coming year.

Earlier, the Foreign Office, in a statement on the resurgence of violence in Yemen, expressed “complete solidarity” with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed its commitment to the Kingdom’s security.