ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Pakistan has emphasized that there is a dire need to ensure that the Middle East does not get further destabilized by terrorist groups and other non-state actors.
It came when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif met the Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and Crown Prince Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz and Deputy Crown Prince and Minister for Interior Prince Muhammad bin Nayef Al-Saud in Riyadh on Thursday.
“Pakistan expressed to the Saudi leadership its deep concern at the increasing threats to regional peace and stability in the Middle East,” the Foreign Office in Islamabad said in its press release issued in reference to Nawaz’s meetings with the Saudi leadership.
During the meetings, the prime minister reiterated that any aggression against Saudi Arabia’s territorial integrity will evoke a strong response from Pakistan.
“The sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia was a policy imperative for Pakistan and Islamabad could not remain a bystander against efforts to destabilize Saudi Arabia,” Sharif told the Saudis.
The prime minister said that Pakistan condemned the violent overthrow of the legitimate Yemeni government by Houthis and was deeply perturbed on external support of this process.
The foreign office said that Pakistan extended its support to the political objectives of the coalition led by the Saudi Arabia to restore unconditionally the legitimate government in Yemen and withdrawal of Houthis from the territories seized by them including the capital Sana’a.
Pakistan also offered to cooperate in delivering humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen. It expressed its willingness to play a positive role in promoting a peaceful resolution of the ongoing political crisis in Yemen and render its support for implementation of UN Resolution 2216.
In addition, Pakistan also offered to cooperate in delivering humanitarian assistance to the people of Yemen.
Both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia also agreed to further expand the existing defense, security and intelligence cooperation. The two sides reiterated their condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and reaffirmed their desire to strengthen cooperation on this issue.
The Saudi King and the Pakistani premier expressed satisfaction at the discussions held during the meeting and reiterated their commitment to further enhance bilateral relations.
Nawaz Sharif reiterated his invitation to Saudi King to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience.
