ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah met his Saudi counterpart, Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif in Jeddah on Thursday during which the two discussed ways to enhance bilateral security cooperation and jointly tackle “security challenges,” Pakistan’s interior ministry said.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial relations with one another. Over 2.5 million Pakistanis live and reside in the kingdom. Both countries also enjoy strong political, cultural and defense ties with one another, with Saudi Arabia often coming to Pakistan’s help with economic aid.
Saudi Arabia’s interior minister visited Islamabad in February this year, with the two nations deciding to strengthen bilateral cooperation and increase connectivity between their respective interior ministries.
Sanaullah, who left Saudi Arabia last week to perform Umrah, met his Naif to discuss matters of mutual interest between the two countries.
“Both sides agreed to further improve coordination between their interior ministries to deal with common challenges,” the Pakistani interior ministry said in a statement.
“There is a need to improve communication between the Interior Ministries of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” Sanaullah said, adding that “cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will further increase.”
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will jointly face all internal and regional security challenges,” Sanaullah said.
He said Riyadh had always “generously” helped and supported Pakistan in difficult situations, congratulating the Saudi leadership for successfully hosting the Hajj for around one million pilgrims this year.
Over 83,000 Pakistani pilgrims performed Hajj this year when the kingdom lifted coronavirus restrictions after two years to allow Muslims from all parts of the world to take part in the annual Islamic pilgrimage.