ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan Saudi leadership that his country would stand by Saudi Arabia if the sanctity and security of the holiest Muslim places in the Kingdom were in danger, said the PM Office on Friday.
“Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks on oil installations in Abqaiq and Khurais and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia against any threat to its security and territorial integrity,” the statement read.
During the visit, Khan held wide-ranging talks with the Saudi leadership.
Extending a warm welcome to the Prime Minister, the Saudi leadership underscored that the relationship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is based on “real brotherhood,” the PM office said.
Khan held separate meetings with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
“The two sides underlined the deep and multi-faceted quality of the relationship and reaffirmed the resolve to enrich it further in myriad dimensions,” according to the official handout.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Adviser on Finance Hafeez Sheikh, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, and PM’s special aide for overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari accompanied the premier.
In meetings with Saudi leadership PM Khan also underscored, in detail, the dire human rights and humanitarian situation in the “Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir and the grave risks posed to peace and security in the aftermath of India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August and its irresponsible and belligerent rhetoric and actions.”
“Noting that the indefensible lockdown of over 8 million Kashmiris had continued for 46 days,” Khan stressed the need of urgently lifting the curfew and restrictions, respect for the rights and freedom of Kashmiris, and resolution of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with the UN Security Council Resolutions.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the pivotal role that OIC’s consistent support for the Kashmir cause has played.
“The Saudi leadership expressed concern over the situation and reiterated its steadfast support and solidarity for the Kashmir cause,” the statement said.
On the bilateral plane, the Prime Minister recalled the historic visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in February 2019 and noted that it had imparted a strong momentum to the growth trajectory of the relationship.
“The two sides reiterated the resolve to further intensify bilateral trade, energy, investment and people-to-people contacts,” the statement said.
Khan also conveyed sincere gratitude for Pakistan’s inclusion in the Road-To-Makkah Project and hoped for its extension to other major cities in Pakistan.
This was Prime Minister Imran Khan’s fourth visit to Saudi Arabia since assuming office in August 2018. His last visit was in May 2019 to attend the 14th Session of the OIC Islamic Summit in Makkah.
Prime Minister office said that the long-standing Pakistan-Saudi fraternal ties are marked by trust, understanding, mutual support and standing by each other.
Saudi Arabia hosts the largest number of Pakistani diaspora anywhere in the world.
Saudi Arabia is among the founding members of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu & Kashmir.
After concluding his visit to the Kingdom, he will continue his journey to New York where he will attend the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the PM Office added.
Governor Makkah Prince Khalid bin Faisal bin Abdulaziz received Khan at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport. Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi Arabia, Raja Ali Ejaz, was also in attendance.
Pakistan reiterates stand for Saudi Arabia’s security
Pakistan reiterates stand for Saudi Arabia’s security
- Pakistani prime minister held meetings with the Saudi leadership during his two-day official visit
- Saudi leadership reiterated its “steadfast support and solidarity for the Kashmir cause,” PM office said
Pakistan says 641 Afghan Taliban members killed, over 855 injured in ongoing conflict
- Both neighbors have been engaged in fierce fighting since Feb. 26 after Afghan forces launched retaliatory attacks against Pakistan
- Pakistan information minister says 243 Afghanistan checkposts destroyed, 65 “terrorists and terror support locations” targeted by air
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has killed at least 641 Afghan Taliban operatives and injured more than 855 in the ongoing conflict between the two sides since last month, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Wednesday.
Fresh clashes between the two neighbors began on Feb. 26 after Afghanistan’s border forces launched attacks against Pakistani military installations. Kabul said the attack was in retaliation for Islamabad’s airstrikes earlier in February. Both forces have since then engaged in the worst fighting between them in decades.
Islamabad has said its airstrikes, which have at times directly targeted the Afghan Taliban government, are aimed at ending Kabul’s support for militants carrying out attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban has denied aiding militant groups.
“Summary of Fitna Al Khawarij/Afghan Taliban losses: 641 killed, 855+ injured, 243 check posts destroyed,” Tarar wrote on social media platform X.
The minister said Pakistani security forces have destroyed 219 tanks, armored vehicles and artillery guns in the operation so far, and also decimated 65 “terrorists and terror support locations” across Afghanistan by targeting them with airstrikes.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan have remained strained since the Afghan Taliban seized power in August 2021. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant attacks across the country in recent months that it blames on militants it alleges are based in Afghanistan.
Kabul denies the allegations and insists that its soil is not used by militant groups for attacks against other countries.
While Afghanistan has voiced the desire for dialogue, Pakistan has repeatedly ruled out talks, saying it will continue targeting militant hideouts in Afghanistan through “Operation Ghazab lil Haq” till Kabul desists from supporting militants.
The ongoing conflict between both sides has put the region on heightened alert, as it already suffers from the ongoing US-Israel war against Iran.
