ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday praised Saudi Arabia’s efforts for peace in the Middle East as well as its quiet diplomacy during a brief military clash between India and Pakistan in May.
Sharif’s remarks come amid renewed hopes of a truce in Gaza, as US President Donald Trump urged the Hamas group on Tuesday to agree to what he called a “final proposal” for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel.
Gaza’s health ministry says Israel’s post-Oct. 7 military assault has killed over 56,000 Palestinians. The offensive has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced Gaza’s entire population and prompted accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice and of war crimes at the International Criminal Court. Israel denies the accusations.
Israel also launched an air war on Iran on June 13, attacking Iranian nuclear facilities and killing top military commanders as well as civilians. Iran retaliated with barrages of missiles on Israeli military sites, infrastructure and cities. The United States entered the war on June 22 with strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. A tenuous ceasefire is now in place after some 935 people were killed in Iran during the 12-day air war with Israel, officials in Tehran say.
“Prime Minister lauded the Kingdom’s efforts for peace in the Middle East as well as its significant role in the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India,” according to a statement from Sharif’s office after he met Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Al-Malki in Islamabad.
In May, archrivals and nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India exchanged missiles, drones and artillery attacks, raising global alarm over the risk of escalation. The US secured a ceasefire agreement after four days. Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia are also believed to have played a role in brokering the truce deal.
In the Gaza Strip, Saudi Arabia has supported diplomatic channels led by Egypt and Qatar to broker humanitarian pauses and facilitate the entry of aid amid ongoing Israeli military operations. While the Kingdom does not recognize Israel, it has intensified regional engagement in coordination with international stakeholders to help reduce civilian suffering and prevent further regional spillover.
Pakistan is a longtime supporter of Palestinian statehood and does not recognize Israel.
During Wednesday’s meeting with the Saudi envoy, Sharif also noted that Pakistan had assumed the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council on July 1, saying it would “count on Saudi Arabia’s support to ensure that its tenure was conducted smoothly and successfully.”
For his part, Ambassador Al Malkiy “thanked the Prime Minister for Pakistan’s role for peace and stability in the region,” the PM’s office said.
The meeting reflects the increasingly strategic relationship between Islamabad and Riyadh, rooted in shared diplomatic goals and economic and security cooperation.
More than 2.5 million Pakistanis live and work in Saudi Arabia, and the Kingdom remains one of Pakistan’s largest financial backers, having provided billions in oil and cash assistance during repeated fiscal crises.
