ISLAMABAD: Minister for information Shibli Faraz met Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Malki, the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan, on Friday and said relations between the two countries were “steadfast as ever.”

Earlier this week, Pakistani army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa visited Riyadh and met Saudi Deputy Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman to discuss security cooperation. Bajwa’s visit was “primarily military-affairs oriented,” the Pakistan army’s media wing had said about the trip.

The visit came on the heels of comments by the Pakistani foreign minister that the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) was dragging its feet on the Kashmir territorial dispute with India, remarks that have created controversy.

“Both countries enjoy common Islamic heritage and would like to further strengthen their ties in different areas which are mutually beneficial,” the information ministry said in a statement, after the minister’s meeting with the ambassador.

“Pak-Saudi relationship is a relationship of hearts,” the minister was quoted as saying.

“He made a special mention of the visit of Saudi Crown Prince HRH Mohammad bin Salman to Pakistan and appreciated his vision 2030 which he said is forward looking and in tandem with the requirements of the modern era,” the statement said. “He also commended the arrangements made by the Saudi government for Hajj this year despite difficulties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Al-Malki said: “Saudi Arabia was the first country visited by Prime Minister Imran Khan, adding that Saudi Arab was at the forefront extending him good wishes and support.”

Meanwhile, Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday rejected speculation that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s ties were deteriorating and said the two nations were each others’ “support and necessity.”

“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia’s ties are and were always good,” Qureshi told Pakistan’s Geo News channel. “I think no one understands the depth of our relations with each other. We are each other’s necessity and support.”

Qureshi said Bajwa held “important” meetings during his visit to Riyadh and he was hopeful that more future meetings would be held with Saudi Arabia on important issues.