By: Imran Ashna
ISLAMABAD: During the weekly press briefing, the spokesperson for the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said on Friday that the Strategic Mutual Defence Pact signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia earlier this week would not be used to threaten any other country.
The FO spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan visited Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince. High-level officials accompanied Prime Minister Shahbaz during the visit.
“Formal talks took place between the two leaders at the Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh, where they discussed the historical and strategic relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” Mr Ali Khan said.
He said that Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif conveyed his best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. During the visit, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia signed a “Strategic Joint Defence Pact,” marking a significant milestone for promoting peace and security across the region and the world. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their cordial reception and great hospitality. In response, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince extended his sincere wishes to the people of Pakistan.
Additionally, an OIC meeting was held in Doha, Qatar, on September 18, attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. During the meeting, he strongly condemned Israel’s attack on Qatar and expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with its Muslim counterparts. Flood Marshal Asim Munir also visited Doha, where he condemned the Israeli attack on the Muslim Brotherhood country Qatar, as well as the ongoing aggression in Gaza.
The foreign office spokesperson also discussed that President Asif Ali Zardari is currently visiting China. In addition to meetings with Chinese leaders, various Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were inked across different sectors, including education and information technology.
He also said that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with his Egyptian counterpart the other day. The Egyptian Foreign Minister congratulated Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the defence pact, describing it as a milestone in promoting partnership and trust. Both foreign ministers discussed regional and global issues, emphasising the importance of peace, stability, and economic progress. They reiterated their commitment to multilateral cooperation across various sectors.
