ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who visited Pakistan on February 17-18, 2019 at the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan, concluded a highly successful visit on Monday, the Dispatch News Desk (DND) news agency reported.
The visit laid the foundation for a new chapter in Pakistan-Saudi relationship, marked by high level institutional framework to guide future direction of political, diplomatic, economic, investment, trade, people-to-people, defence, security and cultural aspects.
The establishment of Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SCC), its subsidiary mechanism and the Council’s inaugural session in Islamabad were one of the key steps in shaping the new trajectory in the bilateral relationship.
Investment and trade relations received high priority during the visit as demonstrated by the Saudi announcement of investments US $20 billion.
The two sides signed a range of agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in several areas.
Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed gratitude to the Crown Prince for his immediate consent to release 2107 prisoners from Saudi jails.
پاکستان کا دو روزہ کامیاب دورہ کرنے کے بعد سعودی ولی عہد شہزادہ محمد بن سلمان پاکستان سے روانہ، وزیراعظم عمران خان اور اعلیٰ حکام نے سعودی ولی عہد کو رخصت کیا۔#CrownPrinceinPakistan #PakSaudiFriendship 🇵🇰🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/hggIp7cdP1
— Prime Minister’s Office, Pakistan (@PakPMO) February 18, 2019
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement which is being issued separately.
The joint statement, while reaffirming the historic relationship between the two brotherly countries, applauds the growing momentum in bilateral ties in all areas.
The Saudi side praised Prime Minister Imran Khan’s dialogue offer to India including the initiative on opening of Kartarpur corridor.
Both sides stressed that dialogue is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the region and to resolve the outstanding issues.
Both sides strongly condemned the atrocities and human rights violations committed against Muslims around the world.
The prime minister briefed the Saudi Crown Prince on the grave human rights violations in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) and the need for resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people.
The statement also articulates the common positions of the two countries on a range of regional peace and security and international issues including inter alia challenges faced by the Islamic Ummah, interfaith harmony, counter terrorism, among others.
The prime minister and the Crown Prince spoke to the media at the airport.
