PM Shehbaz, Saudi Crown Prince Plan Meeting Amid Regional Tensions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have decided to maintain close communication and meet soon, as regional tensions continue to rise. This agreement followed a telephone discussion between the two leaders on Sunday, according to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The conversation took place a day after Saudi Arabia temporarily closed its East-West oil pipeline due to an aerial attack amid increasing conflict in the Middle East. The 1,200-kilometre pipeline, which runs across the Arabian Peninsula, has been critical for global oil supplies in recent months, transporting between 4 million to 5 million barrels per day.

Saudi authorities reported that the pipeline closure was a precaution following a drone attack believed to have originated from Iraq. Satellite images showed smoke coming from a location south of Medina, and the Saudi Foreign Ministry reported that the incident caused injuries and some damage, the extent of which was still being assessed.

During the call, Prime Minister Shehbaz condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure. He expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity with Saudi Arabia, stressing that such actions threatened peace and stability in the region and could further disrupt the global economy and energy supplies.

Shehbaz Sharif also mentioned that, together with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Pakistan would continue its efforts to reduce tensions and encourage peace in the region. He also expressed warm regards to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman thanked Pakistan for its continued support for Saudi Arabia and its role in promoting regional peace and stability. Both leaders agreed to keep their channels of communication open and looked forward to meeting soon.