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
Saudi crown prince, European council president discuss cooperation
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call from European Council President Antonio Costa, the Saudi Press Agency said early Thursday.
The pair discussed enhancing cooperation between the Kingdom and European Union countries.
They also tackled a number of regional and international issues and the efforts made to achieve security and stability.
Interpol to establish regional office in Saudi Arabia
- The Kingdom and the international police organization sign host country agreement
RIYADH: Interpol is to establish an office in Saudi Arabia that will serve the Middle East and North Africa region.
Hisham Al-Faleh, undersecretary at the Kingdom’s Ministry of Interior, and Jurgen Stock, secretary-general of the international police organization, signed a host country agreement on Wednesday.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, the Saudi Minister of Interior, and Maj. Gen. Ahmed Naser Al-Raisi, the president of Interpol, also attended the signing ceremony, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In addition, they discussed Interpol’s activities during a meeting that also included Nasser Al-Dawood, the deputy minister of interior; Brig. Gen. Abdulmalik Al-Saqeeh, the director general of Saudi Interpol; and other senior officials.
Saudi Shoura Council speaker receives Japan’s newly appointed envoy
Saudi Shoura Council Speaker Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Asheikh received Japan’s newly appointed Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Morino Yasunari in Riyadh on Wednesday.
The Japanese ambassador praised the strong ties between Saudi Arabia and Japan, affirming his country’s commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the meeting, the two sides also discussed ways to bolster parliamentary collaboration between the Shoura Council and the Japanese Parliament, and other topics of mutual interest.
Qassim governor praises green initiative’s success
- The Green Qassim Land Initiative has completed planting 5 million trees as part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative
RIYADH: Qassim Gov. Prince Faisal bin Mishaal commended the success of the Green Qassim Land Initiative in planting 5 million trees as part of the broader Saudi Green Initiative.
In a meeting on Wednesday, he praised government and private sector efforts, particularly the contributions of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification.
The governor also lauded the ministry’s and center’s innovative approach to repurposing materials confiscated from environmental regulation violators for sustainable reforestation, notably in Qassim National Park.
Prince Faisal reaffirmed the region’s commitment to expanding vegetation cover and strengthening environmental protection, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The ministry’s Qassim branch director general, Salman Al-Suwainea, said that the initiative has progressed through various stages of collaboration with governmental and nonprofit organizations, playing a key role in advancing the Saudi Green Initiative’s objectives.
King Faisal Prize announces winners for Service to Islam
- The prize was awarded jointly to the Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf, and Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth, consultant at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information
RIYADH: The 2025 King Faisal Prize for Service to Islam has been awarded jointly to the Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf, and Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth, consultant at the General Authority for Survey and Geospatial Information.
Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf is a Saudi initiative by the Liajlehum Association, which serves people with disabilities.
Prince Turki Al-Faisal announced the laureates for the Service to Islam category at a ceremony in Riyadh on Wednesday.
Mushaf Tibyan Project for the Deaf has been awarded the prize for its provision of a complete Qur’anic interpretation in sign language, and for providing an interactive Qur’an for those with hearing disabilities.
It offers an innovative approach to Qur’anic interpretation, using techniques that enable the deaf to reflect on and understand the meaning of the Holy Qur’an.
Sami Abdullah Almaghlouth has been awarded the prize for his outstanding efforts in documenting Islamic history, his achievements in the field of historical and geographical atlases, and his accomplishments in both the diversity and comprehensiveness of the topics covered, which include most aspects of Islamic history, its figures, monuments and stages.
The Saudi national’s work includes atlases on the life of Prophet Muhammad, the history of the prophets and messengers, the Rashidun caliphs, atlases on religions, places in the Holy Qur’an, Islamic sects and schools of thought, Hadith scholars, and Holy Qur’an interpreters.
His work has been translated into several languages.
Earlier, on Jan. 8, the KFP, awarded in five categories, was announced, except for the Service to Islam prize. Announcing the winners then, Dr. Abdulaziz Alsebail, KFP secretary-general, said: “The selection committees, after meticulous deliberations, have reached decisions for ... Islamic studies, Arabic language and literature, medicine, and science. ”
The coveted prize for Islamic studies for 2025 was awarded jointly to Professor Saad Abdulaziz Alrashid and Professor Said Faiz Alsaid. Both are Saudi nationals and professors at King Saud University.
The prize for Arabic language and literature was withheld due to the nominated works not reaching the set criteria.
The prize for medicine was awarded to Michel Sadelain (Canada), and the prize for science awarded in physics to Sumio Iijima, a professor at Meijo University, Japan.
The KFP was established in 1977, and given for the first time in 1979 in three categories — Service to Islam, Islamic studies, and Arabic language and literature. Two additional categories were introduced in 1981 — medicine and science. The first medicine prize was awarded in 1982, and in science two years later.
Each prize laureate is endowed with $200,000, a 24-carat gold medal weighing 200 grams, and a certificate inscribed with the laureate’s name and a summary of the work that qualified them for the prize.
