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
Sharif departs for Austria on first official visit by Pakistani PM in over 30 years
- Shehbaz Sharif leads high-level delegation to Austria on two-day visit, says Pakistan’s foreign office
- Sharif to meet Austrian counterpart, chair Pakistan–Austria Business Forum meeting during visit
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Vienna on Sunday for a two-day visit to review bilateral ties, his office said in a statement, marking the first official visit by a Pakistani premier to the country in over three decades.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesperson said that Sharif is undertaking the visit at Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker’s invitation. Sharif will lead a high-level delegation comprising the deputy premier and information minister from the Feb. 15-16 visit.
The foreign office said Sharif’s visit marks 70 years since diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Austria were established.
“This visit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to Vienna marks the first visit by a Pakistani Prime Minister to Austria in over three decades, the last having been undertaken by the then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in 1992,” the statement said.
Sharif will hold bilateral talks with his Austrian counterpart, during which the two leaders will take stock of the entire gamut of bilateral relations.
“The prime minister will also chair a meeting of the Pakistan–Austria Business Forum, which is being organized by the Austrian Economic Chamber (WKO),” the foreign office said. “He will also visit multilateral organizations.”
According to Pakistan’s foreign ministry, Islamabad and Vienna enjoy cooperation in the domains of trade, economy, culture and education.
It said Sharif’s visit to Vienna will establish new dimensions to the Pakistan-Austria relations.
