Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia in protecting its sovereignty, security and territorial integrity following a recent surge in Houthi attacks.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Shehbaz made the remarks during a meeting with Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy.
The prime minister welcomed the envoy and congratulated him on taking up his diplomatic assignment.
Albugamy assumed his responsibilities in Islamabad on Thursday, expressing his resolve to further strengthen the longstanding strategic and brotherly relations between the two countries.
During Friday’s meeting, Shehbaz highlighted the progress in bilateral relations in recent years and reiterated Pakistan’s determination to expand cooperation with Saudi Arabia across multiple sectors.
He strongly denounced the latest Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, which resulted in casualties, including deaths and injuries among Pakistani nationals, the PMO statement said.
The prime minister described the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance as significant milestones in bilateral relations, underscoring the two countries’ shared resolve to promote regional peace and security.
He also expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for its continued financial and economic assistance to Pakistan and assured the new ambassador of Islamabad’s full cooperation in further deepening bilateral ties.
The meeting took place amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Last Wednesday, Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting Saudi Aramco facilities after Saudi officials reported an attack on a building in Riyadh housing the energy company’s operations centre.
Explosions were also heard across the Saudi capital as the coalition engaged in fighting the Houthis announced that it had intercepted a missile launched towards Riyadh by the group.