Pakistan, Saudia agree to work together for regional peace, stability

• PM Shehbaz meets Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during ‘short visit to Jeddah’

• Assures His Royal Highness Pakistan would always ‘stand firmly’ with the Kingdom

  JEDDAH/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman that Pakistan would always “stand firmly” with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and strive for their “mutual desire for peace” in the region, state media reported.

Premier Shehbaz reaffirmed the long-standing friendship and strategic partnership with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during a meeting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah in the wee hours of Friday, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia H.R.H. Prince Muhammad bin Salman in Jeddah on 12 March 2026. pic.twitter.com/YxFZILR8ao

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) March 12, 2026

The PMO statement said, “Prime Minister of Pakistan held a restricted meeting with His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in Jeddah today. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff & Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present.”

“At the outset, the Prime Minister conveyed his respectful regards and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and expressed profound appreciation for the Kingdom’s longstanding support to Pakistan,” it added.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif held a restricted meeting with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.

At the outset, the Prime Minister conveyed his respectful regards and… pic.twitter.com/9XMVHDhDGH

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) March 13, 2026

The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times.

Both leaders had an in depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the region and agreed to work together for regional peace and stability, the PMO said.

Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on a brief official visit at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud.

The visit came as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of immediate de-escalation, state media reported.

According to a post on its X account, state-broadcaster PTV News said, “Premier Shehbaz was received at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, Consul General in Jeddah Syed Mustafa Rabani, and other diplomatic staff were also present.”

Jeddah: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is being received by His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Mashaal bin Abdulaziz, Deputy Governor of Makkah region, at the royal terminal of Jeddah International airport. pic.twitter.com/ZqOrJ9E8Zt

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) March 12, 2026

PTV News reported that the visit, lasting only a few hours, would include a meeting between PM Shehbaz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “In the meeting, there will be detailed discussions on the current regional situation, state of security, and bilateral relations,” the state broadcaster said, emphasizing that the visit reflects Pakistan’s positive diplomatic role, which Islamabad intends to continue.

The visit comes amid heightened hostilities in the Middle East, where Gulf countries — including Saudi Arabia — have faced attacks from Iran, which Tehran says target US and Israeli sites in retaliation for large-scale strikes carried out by the latter.

Earlier on Thursday, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said the premier would exchange views with the Saudi crown prince on ongoing regional tensions, security, and bilateral cooperation, reaffirming that Pakistan will continue playing a constructive diplomatic role.

‘Visit part of broader effort for cessation of hostilities’

Addressing a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said PM Shehbaz’s visit should be seen in the context of Pakistan’s efforts to advocate for an early cessation of hostilities and pave the way for dialogue and diplomacy.

He noted that Pakistan has consistently urged three key principles to its interlocutors during the conflict, including “respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and refraining from the use of force within sovereign territory; Upholding international law and UN Charter principles and resuming dialogue and engagement to pursue a peaceful, negotiated resolution to the crisis.”

Just a day earlier, PM’s Spokesperson for Foreign Media Mosharraf Zaidi said Pakistan would stand by Saudi Arabia “before it is needed.”

On March 7, a week after US-Israeli strikes on Iran escalated the conflict, Chief of Defence Forces and COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir visited Saudi Arabia to meet Defence Minister Khalid bin Salman Al Saud. They discussed the gravity of the security situation arising from Iranian missile and drone attacks on the Kingdom and explored joint measures under the framework of the “Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement” signed last year.

Days earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed that Pakistan’s diplomatic interventions had helped deter heavier Iranian strikes on Saudi Arabia.