ISLAMABAD: The United States said on Tuesday it encourages diplomatic engagements among its partners and supports the upcoming visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan, expected sometime this month.
The statement by State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller was issued in response to a question about diplomatic activities in the region, including Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s official tour of the South Asian state.
The Saudi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan is likely to occur amid high-level exchanges between the two countries, as Islamabad seeks foreign investment to address its economic challenges.
“We always support diplomatic engagement between our partners,” Miller said during a media briefing. “I don’t have any further comment on the visit between the Saudi crown prince to Pakistan, but it’s – that kind of diplomatic engagement is routine and something that we support and encourage.”
“But when it comes to Iran, of course, while we welcome regional de-escalation, we’ve seen the outbreak of limited conflict between Iran and Pakistan,” he continued. “We do remain skeptical about Iran’s intentions given its continued destabilizing behavior broadly in the region.”
Last month, Raisi arrived in Pakistan on a three-day official visit as the two neighbors sought to mend ties after unprecedented tit-for-tat military strikes in January. The visit also took place as tensions were running high in the Middle East after Iran launched airstrikes on Israel that retaliated with its own attack on Isfahan.
Pakistan and Iran are also working on a gas pipeline project agreed between them in 2009 amid the threat of US economic sanctions.
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday the government in Islamabad would continue to pursue its own interest as a sovereign state.
He also confirmed the Saudi crown prince’s much-awaited visit to Islamabad was on the cards and could materialize “any time” during this month.
US supports Saudi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan amid regional diplomatic activities
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US supports Saudi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan amid regional diplomatic activities
- Matthew Miller says the US always encourages diplomatic engagements among its partner countries
- He expresses skepticism over Ebrahim Raisi’s Pakistan visit due to Iran’s ‘destabilizing behavior’ in region
Pakistan Air Force conducts successful test of air-launched cruise missile
- The indigenously developed ‘Taimoor’ missile has a range of 600 kilometers and carries a conventional warhead
- The missile is designed to fly at low altitudes, which enables it to evade hostile air, missile defense systems
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has successfully conducted a test of an air-launched cruise missile, ‘Taimoor,’ the Pakistani military said on Saturday, marking another significant milestone in advancement of national aerospace and defense capabilities.
The indigenously developed Taimoor weapon system is capable of engaging enemy land and sea targets with high precision. The missile has a range of 600 kilometers and carries a conventional warhead.
The missile test comes months after a brief but intense military conflict between Pakistan and India in which the nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile and artillery fire and deployed drones and fighter jets.
Equipped with state-of-the-art navigation and guidance system, Taimoor is designed to fly at very low altitudes, enabling it to effectively evade hostile air and missile defense systems.
“Its precision-strike capability significantly enhances the conventional deterrence and operational flexibility of Pakistan Air Force, further strengthening the country’s overall defense posture,” said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“The successful flight test underscores the technical maturity, innovation and self-reliance achieved by Pakistan’s defense industry.”
The missile’s launch was witnessed by senior officers of the armed forces along with distinguished scientists and engineers, who played a pivotal role in the development of this advanced weapon system.
PAF’s Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu congratulated the scientists, engineers and the entire PAF team on this remarkable achievement, lauding their professional excellence, dedication and unwavering commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s defense capabilities.
“The air chief reaffirmed that such accomplishments are a testament to the nation’s resolve to achieve technological self-sufficiency and maintain a credible conventional deterrent in the evolving regional security environment,” the ISPR said.
“The successful test of the Taimoor weapon system reflects Pakistan Air Force’s continued pursuit of operational readiness, technological superiority and national security objectives.”
Pakistan has placed greater emphasis on battle readiness in recent months. On Dec. 15, Pakistan Navy test-fired surface-to-air missile in the northern Arabian Sea.
Prior to that, Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir visited frontline garrisons of Gujranwala and Sialkot to observe a field training exercise involving tanks and drones, where he had highlighted the importance of technological adaptability, saying modern warfare required agility, precision, situational awareness and rapid decision-making.
