Kashmir mentioned in Pak-Shah talks during Sherbaz Sharif’s Umrah trip

Shehbaz Sharif and Prince Mohammed bin Salman hold official meeting at Safa Palace in Mecca.

Islamabad/Jeddah:

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan stressed the importance of dialogue between Islamabad and New Delhi to resolve “outstanding issues”, especially Kashmir.

This was stated in a joint statement issued by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi de facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 7, a day after their official meeting at the Safa Palace in Mecca.

Their discussions focused on strengthening brotherly relations between the two countries and exploring ways to strengthen cooperation across sectors, the joint statement said.

They also discussed the Kashmir issue, the statement said.

“Both sides emphasized the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries, particularly the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region,” the statement said.

New Delhi has long held that the Kashmir issue is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and is not subject to any third-party mediation or intervention.

India has repeatedly told Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir “was, is and will remain an integral part of the country.” India said it hopes to establish normal good-neighborly relations with Pakistan in an environment free from terror, hostility and violence.

The joint statement also said the focus was on the supporting role of the Gulf kingdoms to Pakistan’s economy and their shared desire to strengthen trade and investment ties.

“Both parties confirm their commitment to expediting the previously discussed first round of investment plans worth $5 billion,” the statement read.

The two leaders also exchanged views on regional and global developments of common interest, including the worrying situation in Gaza, and urged the international community to work to halt Israel’s military operations in Gaza and mitigate the humanitarian impact.

The two sides discussed the need to advance the peace process in accordance with relevant Security Council and General Assembly resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative, aiming to seek a just and comprehensive solution to establish an independent Palestinian state centered on East Jerusalem. as its capital,” the statement said.

Prime Minister Sharif invited Bin Salman to pay an official visit to Pakistan, and the Crown Prince accepted the visit.

Sharif accompanied a high-level delegation to Saudi Arabia on Saturday, his first trip abroad, to perform Umrah and meet with Saudi Arabian leaders.

Separately, Radio Pakistan reported that Prime Minister Sharif and the Saudi Crown Prince reiterated their mutual determination to further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. The two leaders appreciated the continued development of long-standing brotherly relations between the two countries.

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