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.



Trump’s Saudi Visit to Cement Deeper Strategic Ties

US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)
US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)
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Trump’s Saudi Visit to Cement Deeper Strategic Ties

US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)
US President Donald Trump during his visit to the Saudi capital Riyadh in May 2017 (SPA)

Analysts expect US President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia in mid-May – his first foreign trip since taking office – to lay the groundwork for deeper strategic and security ties between Washington and Riyadh, while boosting economic and investment cooperation.

The White House has officially announced that Trump will visit Saudi Arabia from May 13 to 16, as part of a regional tour that also includes Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Analysts told Asharq Al-Awsat that Trump's agenda during his visit is expected to be dominated by the region’s most pressing and complex issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and broader tensions with Tehran, the ongoing war and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the current situation in Yemen.

In a previous interview with CBS News, Trump described his relationship with the Middle East as “good,” frequently praising Washington’s trade ties with Saudi Arabia and the kingdom’s regional role in promoting peace and stability.

Trump has also repeatedly lauded Saudi Arabia for hosting US diplomatic efforts and facilitating talks aimed at securing a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.

Dr. Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Gulf Research Center, said several key regional files require resolution or a clear US stance ahead of the president’s Gulf tour.

“Chief among them are Iran’s nuclear file and broader relations with Tehran, the current situation in Yemen, and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,” he said.

Sager told Asharq Al-Awsat that alongside strategic and security matters, economic issues will also feature prominently during Trump’s visit.

These include Gulf investments in the US economy, the stability of the US dollar, and global oil prices, which he described as “core economic concerns.”

He noted, however, that US tariffs are unlikely to be a priority topic during the trip.

“Unlike with other countries, the trade balance with Gulf states favors the United States, so tariffs are not high on the regional agenda,” he said.

Saudi political analyst Dr. Khaled al-Habbas said the president’s visit is a clear signal of the strength of US-Saudi relations, which have spanned more than eight decades.

“These ties have been built on a solid foundation of mutual interests across political, economic, military, and social fields,” he told Asharq Al-Awsat.

He added that this long-standing partnership has proven vital to the interests of both countries, particularly during regional crises and on the international stage—from the Cold War era to more recent Saudi-led mediation between the US and Russia amid the Ukraine conflict.

Trump’s decision to make Riyadh the first stop on his foreign tour reflects the importance Washington places on its relationship with Saudi Arabia, given the kingdom’s growing influence both regionally and globally, the Saudi analyst said.

“The choice underscores how much weight the US administration gives to its ties with the Kingdom, due to Riyadh’s pivotal role on the regional and international stages, as well as its significant economic and political clout,” al-Habbas explained.

He said the talks between the two leaderships are expected to cover a wide range of shared concerns, including economic cooperation and current political developments across the region and beyond.

“This visit is likely to pave the way for deeper military and political coordination, as well as collaboration in the field of peaceful nuclear energy,” he added.

Saudi Arabia holds a key diplomatic position in the eyes of the White House.

Trump also chose the kingdom as the first destination of his inaugural foreign tour in 2017— a gesture seen by many as a strong signal of the administration’s appreciation and recognition of Riyadh’s regional and international role.

Saudi Arabia has hosted two rounds of talks between the United States and Russia, as well as between the US and Ukraine, as part of ongoing efforts to broker a ceasefire and end the war that has raged for more than three years.

Washington has also expressed appreciation for Riyadh’s role within OPEC, particularly its efforts to stabilize global oil prices.