ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that Prime Minister Imran Khan received a “positive response” from Iran and Saudi Arabia during his latest visits to the two countries.

According to recent statements issued by the country’s foreign office, Khan discussed the regional security situation with the top leaders of the Middle Eastern states in a bid to defuse tensions in the Gulf region.

Qureshi reiterated the same during a news conference in Islamabad, pointing to the fact that Pakistan became concerned in the wake of the attacks on the Saudi oil facilities and supplies in the region since they triggered political anxiety across the world.

“In these circumstances,” he said, “Prime Minister Imran Khan realized that any further escalation would not only be detrimental to the region and global economy but also negatively impact Pakistan and the rest of the world.”

The foreign minister added it was in this context that Khan went to Riyadh and got an encouraging response.

“The response that we received from the two countries far surpassed our expectations,” he said.