Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud has emphasized the need to strengthen bilateral ties during a meeting with Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir, according to a statement by the military’s media wing.
Expressing the deep-rooted and fraternal relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, Prince Khalid remarked on their longstanding support for each other, as quoted in a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations.
Prince Khalid, a former F-15 pilot in the Royal Saudi Air Force, was honored as the guest at the Pakistan Day ceremony, where he was accompanied by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Asif Ali Zardari, and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif.
Pakistan Day commemorates the historic Lahore Resolution of March 23, 1940, which called for the creation of a separate nation for Muslims within the British Indian Empire.
During his visit, Prince Khalid engaged in discussions with COAS Munir, focusing on mutual interests, enhancing ties across various sectors, particularly defense.
COAS Munir extended gratitude to Prince Khalid for his visit, while the Saudi Defence Minister thanked the army chief for the invitation to the Pakistan Day parade.
Following his visit, Prince Khalid departed for Saudi Arabia, bidding farewell at Nur Khan Airbase, marking the conclusion of his trip to Pakistan.
The resolve to bolster collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was reiterated in a meeting between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prince Khalid. Both sides emphasized the significance of their bilateral relationship, rooted in shared faith and historical ties.
President Zardari commended Saudi Arabia’s support during challenging times and praised the leadership of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation and promote regional peace, Prince Khalid was awarded the Nishan-i-Pakistan by President Zardari.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also held discussions with Prince Khalid, focusing on bilateral matters, regional peace, and security. Both leaders expressed mutual appreciation for the longstanding ties between their nations.
PM Shehbaz highlighted the pivotal role of Saudi Arabia in bolstering Pakistan’s economy and emphasized the need for further cooperation, particularly in defense and economy sectors.
Prince Khalid extended best wishes to PM Shehbaz and expressed gratitude for being invited as a special guest to the Pakistan Day parade, emphasizing the importance of enhancing defense relations between the two countries.
Both sides expressed eagerness for future collaboration, with Pakistan eagerly anticipating the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
In summary, the visit underscored the commitment of both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to strengthen their bilateral ties across various domains for mutual benefit and regional stability.
