- SAUDI DEFENCE MINISTER ARRIVES IN ISLAMABAD TO SEEK PAKISTAN’S SUPPORT
- ‘Threat To Saudi Territorial Integrity To Evoke Strong Response From Pakistan’: General Raheel
RAWALPINDI, January 10: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has exchanged views on bilateral relations and regional situation in his meeting with visiting Saudi Defence Minister Prince Muhammad bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz in Islamabad this evening. Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia if any threat arises to its territorial integrity.
Meanwhile, Army Chief General Raheel Sharif said Sunday that Pakistan holds its defence ties with Saudi Arabia in highest esteem and re-asserted that any threat to the Kingdom’s territorial integrity would evoke a strong response from Pakistan.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) said this while meeting with Saudi deputy crown prince and Defence Minister Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud at General Headquarters this afternoon.
Matters related to regional security and defence cooperation came under discussion during the meeting, said a statement issued by the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).
The COAS said Pakistan enjoys close and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and attaches great importance to their security.
The Saudi Defence Minister said the KSA attaches great importance to Pakistan and its armed forces and appreciates their successes in fight against terrorism and efforts for regional stability.
Prince Mohammad also reaffirmed the Kingdom’s full support to Pakistan’s position on all matters. Earlier, the Saudi crown prince was given a warm welcome on his arrival at Nur Khan Base in Islamabad by Minister of Defence Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and other officials.
Saudi Arabia’s deputy crown prince and defence minister, Mohammed bin Salman, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday to discuss Pakistan’s cooperation in the 34-nation anti-terror coalition of Islamic countries the KSA has recently formed.
His visit comes just four days after Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir travelled to Islamabad and held wide ranging talks with Pakistan’s civil and military leaders, including Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and army chief General Raheel Sharif.
A government official made it clear Pakistan will not become part of any action that will be against any specific country. “We support a political solution to the Syrian problem without interference from the outside,” the official maintained.
Asked whether Pakistan would spare troops for the coalition, the official said details were being worked out. However, Pakistan’s role would remain restricted to intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism training and other activities in the coalition, the official said.-Agencies
