RIYADH: Pakistan has lent all support to Saudi Arabia while renewing its call for the solution to the regional conflicts in the Middle East, especially the crisis in war-torn Yemen and Syria, said Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi Arabia here on Sunday.
Speaking to Arab News on the occasion of Pakistan’s 70th Independence Day, Khan Hasham bin Saddique said Pakistan fully supports UN Security Council Resolution 2216, which refers to the legitimacy of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi’s government for peace and security in Yemen.
He said that Pakistan also opposed the overthrow of a legitimate president and his government by the Houthi militias.
“We call upon the warring factions in Yemen to resolve their differences peacefully through dialogue in line with the Yemeni National Dialogue and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiative,” said the envoy.
In his wide-ranging interview, the ambassador gave an overview of the progressively growing Saudi-Pakistan relations. He also spoke about the regional conflicts in the Middle East, which have hampered all plans to restore peace and security in the region as well as in the extended neighborhood.
He said: “We support regional and international efforts for restoration of peace and stability in Yemen.”
He noted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed outstanding bilateral relations. “While political and security relations between the two countries continue to scale new heights, I am of the view there is a considerable scope to expand commercial and cultural ties.”
The diplomat said: “I am hopeful with the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 and CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor) in Pakistan both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will look to exploit huge investment opportunities...”
On regional issues, Saddique said that Pakistan as a matter of principle supports peaceful resolution of conflicts through negotiations. “On Syria, we call for protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country, cessation of hostilities and violence by all sides,” he added.
He urged all parties “to exercise restraint and to ensure the safety of (Syrian) civilians.”
“Pakistan believes that solution to the Syrian crisis lies in a peaceful and inclusive process that meets the aspirations of the Syrian people, through a comprehensive political dialogue. We hope that all parties in Syria will act in accordance with the UN resolutions, fulfill their obligations, take the peace talks forward and launch political process,” he added.
On the Middle East peace process, he said: “Peace in the Middle East is of critical importance for global peace.”
“Pakistan has always supported the Palestine cause fully realizing the pain suffered by Palestinian brothers and sisters, as we feel that there are many similarities between the issues of Palestine and Kashmir,” he said.
Like Palestine, the Kashmir issue is one of the oldest unresolved issues on the UN agenda, he said.
Asked about the visit of Saudi and Pakistani officials, he said that the next meeting of the Pak-Saudi Joint Commission is scheduled in Islamabad later this year. From the Pakistani side, the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry is planning to bring a business delegation to the Kingdom in October to study the Saudi market, he added.
He said that the magnitude of commodities traded between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is approximately $2.5 billion. Out of this, Pakistan’s exports to Saudi Arabia are worth about $0.5 billion. The total value of services traded between the two countries stands in the vicinity of $580 million, he added.
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan enjoy very cordial relations: Envoy
Saudi Arabia, Pakistan enjoy very cordial relations: Envoy

Newly appointed Saudi ambassador to Mexico presents his credentials

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s newly appointed ambassador to Mexico has presented his credentials to the North American state’s foreign ministry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Fahad bin Ali Al-Manawer handed over a copy of his credentials to Ambassador Jonathan Chait Auerbach, the director general of protocol at the ministry, at a reception held on Tuesday.
The diplomats also reviewed relations between their nations at the meeting.
Al-Manawer took his oath of office in from to the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in March, in a ceremony attended by the Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Saudi FM attends Oslo Forum in Norway

- Forum hosts global leaders and conflict mediators
- Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet foreign officials
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan arrived in the Norwegian capital on Tuesday to take part in the Oslo Forum.
The annual event, organized by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue in Switzerland, hosts global leaders and conflict mediators.
Prince Faisal will meet foreign officials to strengthen relations with the Kingdom and discuss various regional and international issues, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
What pilgrims are sharing online after their Hajj journey

- Worshippers take to social media to share profound experiences with loved ones
- Posting online becomes a way to process the weight of Hajj for many
RIYADH: For many pilgrims, the spiritual journey of Hajj does not end when they leave the holy sites. It continues — quietly, intentionally — in the days and weeks that follow.
Across Saudi Arabia, young pilgrims are using social media to process the weight of Hajj and share the experience with loved ones.
Noor Ahmad, 21, did not plan to post during her pilgrimage. But after she returned, the urge to share came naturally.
After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments. But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?
Noor Ahmad
“After returning from Hajj, I decided to share a few captured moments,” she said. “But how can a photo truly capture the depth and majesty of the experience?”
She described how people responded in varied ways. “Those who had gone before felt nostalgic and started sharing their own stories. Others — those who hadn’t been yet — expressed their longing. It became this moment of connection.”
For Noor, the decision to post was not about aesthetics. “It’s a monumental event. Maybe I could inspire someone who’s hesitant to go. Maybe they’ll see what I saw — and want to experience it for themselves.
“It was my way of saying thank you”
Shatha Al-Jadaan, 25, took a different approach to sharing, after taking a digital detox.
I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.
Shatha Al-Jadaan
“During Hajj, I decided to partially fast from social media. I used only the essentials,” she said. “After I returned, I posted a thread to my close friends explaining where I’d been and shared some of the most meaningful moments.”
The response was full of prayers and warmth. “People were kind, supportive, and curious. But what mattered most to me was that I used the thread to say thank you — to the organizers, to the volunteers, and to Allah.”
She spoke about how she found value in using digital platforms to document something greater than herself.
“I enjoy sharing meaningful moments, and after seeing the tremendous effort put into Hajj on every level, I felt my post was a small, sincere gesture of appreciation.”
Salem Al-Khudair, 28, recorded a voice note to his family group chat while performing the rites.
“I just couldn’t find the words to write. So I recorded myself speaking right after standing in Arafat. I sent it to my family WhatsApp group. My mom was emotional. My dad said, ‘May God accept from you.’ That was enough.”
In an age of curated content, Hajj posts tend to stand out for their sincerity. Pilgrims often strip away the filters, metaphors and trend-driven formats, and just speak from the heart.
Noura Al-Dosari, 23, uploaded a private Instagram story highlight with no captions. “Just visuals. No filters. No hashtags,” she said. “It wasn’t for followers. It was for me. For reflection. A digital bookmark of who I became.”
Some write long captions, others simply post a photo of their ihram folded neatly back into a drawer.
But all of them carry a silent message: I went. I came back different.
Many pilgrims use their posts to recall moments of physical hardship that brought emotional breakthroughs — the heat, the long walks, the brief but powerful connections with strangers.
Others use it to highlight the seamless organization of the pilgrimage as a reminder of how far the experience has evolved.
Amani Al-Saad, 26, used X to share a short story about a volunteer who helped her carry her bag in Muzdalifah. “She didn’t speak much, but she smiled at me and said, ‘This is what we’re here for.’ That stuck with me. I wrote about it as a reminder to myself — that sometimes the smallest moments hold the most meaning.”
While digital connections are increasingly common, most pilgrims emphasize that the real processing happens offline — in quiet conversations with family, in their prayer rooms, or on long drives home.
“I didn’t post to perform,” said Al-Jadaan. “I posted to remember.”
National Water Co. ready for post-Hajj season

- The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems
MADINAH: The National Water Co. has confirmed it is operationally ready for the post-Hajj season.
The company said it would distribute more than 630,000 cubic meters of potable water daily to pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque and throughout Madinah and said its readiness built on ongoing efforts to serve pilgrims and visitors.
The plan involves more than 1,200 employees, including technical, administrative and engineering staff, working to provide water and environmental services.
The company added the plan included securing water storage and coordinating with water production and distribution systems, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Water will be supplied daily during the post-Hajj season through continuous pumping to the central area and religious sites. Chemical and biological tests will be conducted to ensure compliance with water quality standards.
The company said its smart operation system continues to manage and monitor Madinah’s water network, overseeing water pressure and quality in pipelines and reservoirs.
Saudi film body joins global audiovisual group

- Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions
RIYADH: The Film Commission announced its membership in the International Association of Sound and Audiovisual Archives, a step aimed at supporting its work in audiovisual archiving.
The association includes members from 70 countries and represents institutions that preserve materials such as visual content, musical works, historical and literary recordings, and oral histories.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, this membership supports the commission’s efforts to preserve Saudi Arabia’s audiovisual heritage.
Through this affiliation, the commission plans to develop archiving projects and engage in knowledge exchange with international institutions.
The move also reflects the commission’s aim to adopt recognized practices and modern technologies in film archiving, the SPA reported.
Cooperation with association members will provide access to innovations in audiovisual preservation and contribute to efforts to safeguard the Kingdom’s cultural heritage.
Founded in 1969 in Amsterdam, the association promotes collaboration among institutions focused on audiovisual preservation.
It hosts an annual conference for sharing expertise in preservation, restoration, digitization, intellectual property, and public access to archival materials.