–Al-Jubeir calls on FM Qureshi, affirms support to Pakistan in regional conflicts
–Gen Bajwa thankful for Saudi support in ‘very difficult circumstances’.
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir arrived in Pakistan and held meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday.
Saudi FM was scheduled to visit Pakistan and India last week with a special message of the crown prince in the wake of soaring tensions between the two countries, but his visit was delayed due to some unknown reasons.
PM Imran and Saudi FM held a meeting at Prime Minister’s Office where they discussed the ongoing Pak-India tensions and matters of regional and bilateral interest.
Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Advisor on Commerce Abdul Razzaq Dawood, and Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua were also present during the meeting.
Earlier in the day, FM Qureshi met his Saudi counterpart al-Jubeir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two foreign ministers discussed the current situation in the region, as well as other matters of common interest, including economics, politics, and security.
Qureshi said that Saudi Arabia has assured Pakistan complete and overwhelming support towards solving the issues with India in a peaceful manner.
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, al-Jubeir conveyed “sincere wishes of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman to the leadership and people of Pakistan, besides showing deep appreciation for Pakistan’s restraint in the existing charged environment.”
MEETS GEN BAJWA:
The Saudi minister also called on army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.
During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and current situation between Pakistan and India were discussed.
The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s positive role for regional peace and stability and reaffirmed KSA’s support to Pakistan.
The army chief thanked the minister for support in very “difficult circumstances”.
Saudi FM’s visit comes in the wake of Pulwama attack that had led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. They escalated further when Indian entered Pakistan’s airspace to destroy alleged terror camps.
The next day, Pakistan said it had shot down two Indian jets and captured one Indian pilot. The pilot was subsequently sent back as a peace gesture.
Pakistan also debunked Indian claims of hitting a Jaish camp, which was corroborated by Reuters and New York Times journalist.
Later, high-resolution satellite images reviewed by Reuters showed that a JeM-run seminary in northeastern Pakistan appeared to be still standing days after India claimed its warplanes had hit the Islamist group’s training camp on the site and killed a large number of militants.