PM Shehbaz departs for Saudi Arabia on 'brief' visit

Premier to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss regional tensions, security and bilateral ties

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday departed for a brief official visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, state broadcaster APP reported.

During the visit, the prime minister is scheduled to hold a meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, where the two leaders will discuss the prevailing regional situation, ongoing tensions in the region and bilateral relations between the two countries.

According to APP, the discussions will focus on the regional security situation and cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on matters of mutual interest.

Read: US-Iran conflict: not just optics

The visit reflects Pakistan’s continued engagement in diplomatic efforts at the international level and its role in promoting dialogue and stability in the region.

Separately, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi confirmed the visit during the weekly briefing, saying the prime minister had left for a one-day trip to Saudi Arabia.

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He said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is accompanying the prime minister on the visit.

The spokesperson added that the trip forms part of ongoing coordination between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on matters related to regional peace and security.

He said the visit should also be seen as part of broader diplomatic efforts aimed at paving the way for dialogue and diplomacy in the region.

Amid rising tensions in the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Pakistan has reiterated its strong strategic commitment to Saudi Arabia while urging restraint to prevent a wider regional conflict. Yesterday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif discussed the evolving situation during a telephone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, stressing that dialogue and diplomatic engagement were essential to ensure peace, stability and de-escalation in the region.

At the same time, the prime minister’s spokesperson for foreign media, Mosharraf Zaidi, said Pakistan would firmly stand with Saudi Arabia if required, highlighting the depth of ties between the two countries. “The question is not whether Pakistan might come to Saudi Arabia's aid… we will. No matter what, no matter when,” he said, while adding that Islamabad was currently focused on preventing further escalation and ensuring key regional partners are not drawn deeper into the conflict.

Iran has responded to the US-Israeli strikes by launching waves of drone and missile attacks not only toward Israel but also at Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, hosting US military installations, dragging the region deeper into the conflict. The escalation has hit key infrastructure, including airports, ports, hotels, and oil and military facilities across Gulf countries. The attacks have also disrupted oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route for roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum and LNG – while airspace closures across the region have forced airlines to cancel around 40,000 flights, the largest disruption to global air travel since the Covid-19 pandemic.