Mecca: Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday began talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the prime minister of his country, at Al-Safa Palace in the holy city of Mecca.
According to Nam News Network, Sharif was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Field Marshal and Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif. The discussions were expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and addressing regional and international developments.
Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on Thursday, with the primary agenda centered around enhancing bilateral ties and discussing regional issues. Upon arrival, he was received at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah by Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Mecca region. Earlier in the day, Sharif performed Umrah in Mecca.
The visit is part of Islamabad's ongoing mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran. In June, Pakistan, alongside Qatar, facilitated talks between the United States and Iran, culminating in the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 18, and the initiation of negotiations towards a final agreement. However, these talks faced hurdles over issues related to maritime security and freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. Despite this, officials from Iran, Oman, and the US recently indicated progress towards resolving these challenges.
Coinciding with Sharif's visit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also arrived in Saudi Arabia for a one-day working visit. Erdogan is expected to meet both Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Sharif, although specific details about the meeting agendas have not been disclosed.
This diplomatic engagement occurs just a week after Pakistan joined a new Saudi-led Red Sea naval coalition, aimed at securing the waters from threats posed by Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. This move follows the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in September of the previous year.