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.



Saudi FM: Cautiously Optimistic about Syria, I Will Visit Lebanon Soon

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)
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Saudi FM: Cautiously Optimistic about Syria, I Will Visit Lebanon Soon

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)
Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah looks on during the 55th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, January 21, 2025. (Reuters)

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah said on Tuesday he was “cautiously optimistic” about the situation in Syria, while revealing that he plans to visit Lebanon in the coming days.

Speaking at a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, he said there was a “great opportunity” to take Syria in a “positive direction.”

The new Syrian administration is “saying the right things in the open and in secret,” he remarked, noting that it was also open to working with the international community to move in the “right direction.”

He stressed the need to exert more efforts to lift sanctions on Syria, urging the international community to help it during its transitional period in rebuilding the state and aiding the Syrian people.

On Lebanon, Prince Faisal said he will visit the country this week. He stressed that the election of a president after a long period of vacuum was a “very positive development.”

Saudi Arabia needed to see real reforms in order to raise its engagement in the country, he stated. “Discussions there are so far a cause for optimism.”

On efforts to avert any war in the region, Prince Faisal remarked that Iran needs to be positive about the ceasefire in Gaza and it must support it.

“I don't see the incoming US administration as contributory to the risk of war, on the contrary, President Donald Trump has been quite clear he does not favor conflict,” he noted.