Pakistani President Hails Saudi Arabia’s Role in Achieving Security, Stability in Afghanistan

The president of Pakistan holds talks with the Saudi Shura Council speaker. (SPA)
The president of Pakistan holds talks with the Saudi Shura Council speaker. (SPA)
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Pakistani President Hails Saudi Arabia’s Role in Achieving Security, Stability in Afghanistan

The president of Pakistan holds talks with the Saudi Shura Council speaker. (SPA)
The president of Pakistan holds talks with the Saudi Shura Council speaker. (SPA)

Pakistani President Arif Alvi underlined the key role played by Saudi Arabia to achieve security and stability for the Afghan people and find solutions to address the situation in Afghanistan.

He hailed the great efforts by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, which culminated in holding the 17th extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad last week to explore ways to aid Afghanistan.

Alvi also commended the Kingdom’s permanent support to all efforts aimed at improving the situation in the Islamic world.

Alvi met on Friday with Speaker of the Saudi Shura Council Sheikh Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al al-Sheikh and his accompanying delegation in Islamabad.

The meeting was attended by Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly Asad Qaiser and several senior Pakistani government officials.

Alvi and al-Sheikh tackled various issues of common interest and reviewed aspects of economic, investment and parliamentary cooperation and means to enhance it in a way that contributes to the consolidation of the Saudi-Pakistani partnership.

The president pointed to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and his Crown Prince’s sincere positions and great support to Pakistan.

Pakistanis are fully aware that maintaining Saudi Arabia’s security is a responsibility and a duty, Alvi said, stressing that “Pakistan will not hesitate to fulfill this duty once required.”

Moreover, he praised the remarkable developmental transformations in the Kingdom under its Vision 2030, which is directed by the Crown Prince.

Alvi further underscored the he importance of bilateral work and coordination at the parliamentary level between the Shura Council and the Pakistani parliament.

He said al-Sheikh's visit will contribute to achieving the common interests of the two brotherly countries.

Al-Sheikh, for his part, commended the distinguished ties that unite the Kingdom and Pakistan at all levels.

He stressed that this relationship enjoys the support of the leaderships of both countries, conveying to the president the greetings of the Saudi leadership.

He highlighted to the growing parliamentary cooperation between the Shura Council and the Pakistani parliament, as well as the outcomes of his talks with Qaiser, asserting that these meetings will contribute to deepening bilateral cooperation to achieve the interests and welfare of their countries and peoples.



Qatar Pledges Aid for Gaza as More Trucks Cross into the Territory

 This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows an afternoon view of destroyed buildings in Gaza, on January 20, 2025, following a ceasefire deal a day earlier between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. (AFP)
This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows an afternoon view of destroyed buildings in Gaza, on January 20, 2025, following a ceasefire deal a day earlier between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. (AFP)
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Qatar Pledges Aid for Gaza as More Trucks Cross into the Territory

 This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows an afternoon view of destroyed buildings in Gaza, on January 20, 2025, following a ceasefire deal a day earlier between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. (AFP)
This picture taken from the Israeli side of the border with the Gaza Strip shows an afternoon view of destroyed buildings in Gaza, on January 20, 2025, following a ceasefire deal a day earlier between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas group. (AFP)

Qatar on Monday announced plans to supply post-ceasefire Gaza with resources via a “land bridge” at Kerem Shalom, on the border between Egypt, Israel and the coastal Palestinian enclave.

After sending 25 fuel trucks to Gaza on Monday, Qatar plans to supply Gaza with 3.3 million gallons (12.5 million liters) of fuel over the next 10 days, its Foreign Ministry said. The fuel is intended to provide basic services and power hospitals and shelters.

Over the course of the 16-month war, the majority of aid has crossed into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, although it has intermittently closed amid disagreements over what kind of aid can be allowed into the strip. Israel previously restricted entry of some equipment, arguing it could be used for military purposes by Hamas.

Allowing more aid into Gaza is a central tenet of the ceasefire deal’s first phase and will be key to later reconstruction efforts. The deal allows for hundreds of trucks — more than Israel has previously allowed — to deliver aid to Gaza.

Egypt’s state-run press center said Monday that at least 300 aid trucks entered Kerem Shalom and the Nitzana crossing to the south since the ceasefire took effect, as well as 12 diesel trucks and four gas trucks.

However, some of those trucks have carried food aid labeled for UNRWA, the UN agency that Israel has vowed to ban from operating even as it remains the primary distributor of aid in Gaza.

Truck drivers told The Associated Press that throughout the war, vehicles have been turned back for minor bureaucratic infractions or not having aid properly packaged or wrapped.

“If items are approved, we unload them and head back to Egypt ... Some trucks have to drive all the way back with packages they left with that contain expired food aid or that the driver’s or truck information is not listed correctly,” driver Hamdy Emad said.