ISLAMABAD: A Saudi parliamentary delegation has assured Pakistan of its support for Islamabad's efforts to bring stability in Afghanistan, the Pakistani National Assembly said on Wednesday.
The Shoura Council is a legislative body that has the power to propose laws to the King of Saudi Arabia and his cabinet. It has 150 members. A delegation led by its speaker, Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed Al-Asheikh, is in Islamabad on a three-day visit.
Upon his arrival, Al-Asheikh met Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser.
"He assured the Speaker that Saudi Arabia would continue its support to Pakistan in its efforts to bring stability in Afghanistan," the National Assembly said in a series of tweets.
The delegation’s visit comes just days after Pakistan hosted the 17th Extraordinary Session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers on Dec. 19, at the Parliament House in Islamabad. The session was called by Saudi Arabia.
Participating OIC nations decided to establish a humanitarian trust fund to channel humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan, including in partnership with other international actors, and to appoint a special envoy on Afghanistan to the OIC secretary general.
Al-Asheikh congratulated Pakistan on holding the OIC moot and "raising the conscious of the world to deter the Afghan humanitarian crisis."
He assured the Speaker that Saudi Arabia would continue its support to Pakistan in its efforts to bring stability in Afghanistan.
— National Assembly of Pakistan (@NAofPakistan) December 22, 2021
During its Islamabad visit, the Saudi delegation will hold meetings with a number of senior Pakistani officials including President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan.
