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Pakistani Prime Minister A phone call with the Saudi Crown Prince mohammed bin salman On Wednesday, he expressed “complete solidarity” with the kingdom following this week’s bombings in the kingdom Yemenin the port city of Mukalla, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
According to the statement, Shehbaz Sharif It also emphasized the need to maintain regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening their long-standing brotherly relationship, which the statement said had “reached new heights in recent months.”
The statement quoted Crown Prince Mohammed as saying he was grateful for Sharif’s call and reiterated Saudi Arabia’s desire to expand cooperation with the kingdom. Pakistan in areas of mutual interest. According to reports, the crown prince also expressed his intention to pay an official visit to Pakistan next year.
Saudi Arabia bombed the southern Yemeni port of Mukalla on Tuesday after the arrival of a shipment of weapons from the United Arab Emirates believed to be for separatist forces. The strike comes after tensions rose as the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council made advances in the war-torn country.
The confrontation could open a new front in Yemen’s decade-long war, which could pit forces against Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Arab world’s poorest country.
Pakistan, which also maintains close ties with the United Arab Emirates, faces one of its toughest diplomatic challenges since tensions between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi escalated this week.
Sharif spoke to Saudi Prince Salman a day after meeting UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the city of Rahim Yar Khan in the eastern province of Punjab. The UAE ruler stayed here after his official visit to Islamabad over the weekend. Authorities said the meeting was aimed at de-escalating tensions.
Islamabad and Riyadh signed a mutual defense agreement in September that defines an attack on either country as an attack on both. Saudi Arabia has long maintained close economic, religious and security ties with Pakistan, while the United Arab Emirates has provided loan assistance to Islamabad in recent years. Pakistan said the UAE has pledged to invest up to $10 billion in Pakistan by 2024.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan’s foreign ministry in a statement also expressed concern about the renewed violence in Yemen, warning that unilateral actions by either party in Yemen could further exacerbate the conflict and destabilize the region.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs reiterated Pakistan’s support for the security of the Kingdom of Yemen, unity and territorial integrity of Yemen and welcomed regional efforts aimed at de-escalating the situation and restoring peace and stability in the country.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan’s main oil supplier, has provided billions of dollars in loans to Pakistan in recent years to help the Islamic country avoid defaulting on its foreign debt and overcome an economic crisis.