The Prime Minister briefed the Saudi leader on Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic efforts with all parties, calling for de-escalation and restraint.
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation on Wednesday with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, urging an immediate end to hostilities and a return to normalcy amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier strongly condemned recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity and unwavering support for the Kingdom and its people during these difficult times.
PM Shehbaz also praised the Saudi leadership for exercising notable restraint in the current crisis and assured that Pakistan would always stand by Saudi Arabia, just as the Kingdom has consistently supported Pakistan through challenging times.
He stressed the need to end hostilities without delay and restore stability in the region. The prime minister further called for greater unity and harmony within the Ummah, emphasizing that it is needed now more than ever.
He also briefed the Saudi Crown Prince on Pakistan’s constructive diplomatic efforts with all parties, urging de-escalation and the peaceful resolution of differences through dialogue and diplomacy.
The Crown Prince expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s efforts toward peace. Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination between the two countries at all levels.
Separately, the Prime Minister, in a post on X, said he had spoken with the Saudi Crown Prince to convey warm Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the royal family, and the brotherly people of Saudi Arabia.
“I reiterated Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the recent attacks on the Kingdom and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity and unequivocal support for Saudi Arabia in these challenging times,” he wrote.
PM Shehbaz added that he emphasized the urgent need for de-escalation, an immediate end to hostilities, and greater unity within the Ummah.
His remarks came amid rising tensions in the Middle East following attacks by the US and Israel on Iran on February 28, after which Tehran retaliated by striking US bases across the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia, with missiles and drones.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed the landmark Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA) in September last year, under which an attack on either country is considered an attack on both.
A day earlier, PM Shehbaz stated that Islamabad was ready to facilitate talks between the US and Iran to help resolve the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
“Subject to the concurrence of the United States and Iran, Pakistan stands ready and honoured to host and facilitate meaningful and conclusive talks for a comprehensive settlement of the ongoing conflict,” he wrote on X.
Trump also reshared the premier’s offer to host dialogue between the US and Iran on his Truth Social account.
The development came a day after Trump said the US and Iran had engaged in “very good and productive” discussions on achieving a “complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.”
In the past 48 hours, Pakistan, in close coordination with Turkey and Egypt, has played a key role in back-channel diplomacy, conveying messages between the US and Iran to help prevent further escalation and maintain regional stability.
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