FM Qureshi reaffirms Pakistan’s abiding fraternal ties with Saudi Arabia

Earlier, Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi received His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), at the Foreign Office.

During the one-to-one meeting, Pakistani Foreign Minister underlined that the relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had strong and robust foundations and was poised to acquire a new level.

He reiterated Pakistan’s support for the sovereignty and the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The Foreign Minister paid rich tribute to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman for achieving new heights of progress and development of the Kingdom under their visionary leadership.

The two Foreign Ministers had wide-ranging talks covering bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues of common interest.

The two Foreign Ministers reviewed the implementation status of the decisions taken during the visit.

The two sides agreed to continue working closely to further strengthen bilateral relations in all spheres, with a particular focus on trade, investments, energy, the environment, and culture.

Pak-Saudi Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction with the ongoing work related to the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC), which is the highest level platform designed to impart strategic direction to the development of Pakistan-Saudi relations. The two sides agreed that the SPSCC will play a catalytic role in fostering enhanced bilateral cooperation in all fields.

The Foreign Minister offered Pakistan’s full support in the realization of Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, including thorough sharing of experience and provision of requisite professional and technical manpower.

Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted Pakistan’s shifting focus from geo-politics to geo-economics – with emphasis on three central pillars of peace, development partnerships, and connectivity.

The Foreign Minister also highlighted the transformational CPEC project and noted the vast opportunities for investments in the SEZs.

Foreign Minister Qureshi highlighted the human rights situation in IIOJK and underlined Pakistan’s principled position on the peaceful resolution of the Jammu & Kashmir dispute in line with the UNSC resolutions and the wishes of the Kashmiri people. The Foreign Minister thanked the Kingdom for its steadfast support for the Kashmir cause.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also apprised the Saudi Foreign Minister about Pakistan’s perspective for lasting peace and stability in Afghanistan. Emphasizing that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan, Foreign Minister underlined Pakistan’s sincere and serious efforts for an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement in Afghanistan.

Foreign Minister stated that durable peace and stability in Afghanistan will open new avenues for regional connectivity and economic cooperation.

Highlighting the hardships being faced by Pakistani nationals due to current Covid-related travel restrictions, Foreign Minister Qureshi expressed the hope that because of the improved situation on the ground in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia would take steps to facilitate their travel to the Kingdom.

 

The visit of the Saudi Foreign Minister to Pakistan imparts further impetus to the positive momentum in bilateral exchanges and deepening cooperation.