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 Heads on ‘Historic’ Gulf Tour

Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)
Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)
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Trump Heads on ‘Historic’ Gulf Tour

Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)
Saudi and US flags flutter on a main road in Riyadh on May 12, 2025, ahead of a visit by US President Donald Trump this week. (AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Monday left for Saudi Arabia on what he called a "historic" tour of the Middle East that will mix urgent diplomacy on Gaza and Iran with huge business deals.

Air Force One took off on a journey that starts in Saudi Arabia and includes stops in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates -- and possibly talks in Türkiye on the Ukraine war.

Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza will hang heavy over the first major tour of Trump's second term -- but in one sign of progress, US-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander was handed over to the Red Cross just as the president boarded his plane.

"It's big news," Trump said at the White House shortly before departing. "He's coming home to his parents, which is really great news. They thought he was dead."

Trump has in recent weeks seemed to cool on his efforts to end the Gaza war -- despite boasting before taking office that he would be able to bring the conflict to a swift end.

Trump said there were "very good things happening" on talks between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear ambitions -- though he added that Iran "can't have a nuclear weapon."

The US president said that he hoped for more developments on Gaza during his trip to the Gulf, noting that his tour involved "three primary countries" in the region.

Riyadh will host on Wednesday a Gulf-American summit as Trump visits the region.

The summit will bring together the US president with his counterparts from the Arab Gulf.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz sent on Sunday invitations to the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman to attend the summit.