ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s political and military leadership has lauded the efforts of Saudi Arabia in bringing peace and stability in the region.
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi also praised Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s vision in launching the economic transformation plan Vision 2030 and offered his country’s help in achieving it.
Abbasi and his team returned to Pakistan in the small hours of Tuesday after a day-long visit to the Kingdom. He was accompanied by Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa and Director General of Inter Services Intelligence Lt. Gen Naveed Mukhtar.
The Pakistani prime minister and his team held meetings with King Salman and the crown prince during the visit.
According to an official statement from the prime minister’s office, the premier “lauded the efforts of the Saudi leadership in bringing peace and stability in the region and assured Pakistan’s full support in this regard.”
King Salman also praised Pakistan’s efforts in rooting out the menace of terrorism and extremism from its soil.
An official statement issued by Pakistan after the visit, available with Arab News, said that during the meeting with the crown prince, Abbasi praised his vision for launching Vision 2030, the national economic transformation plan, and offered Pakistan’s technical and human resource assistance in achieving it.
The Pakistani leadership appreciated the efforts and dedication of the crown prince in launching a unified platform of Muslim countries in the form of the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), “for countering the menaces of extremism and terrorism that were distorting the real essence of Islam,” the statement said.
The visit took place a day after the inauguration of Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) — a 41-nation coalition against terrorism.
Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan represented the five-member Pakistani delegation. He said Pakistan was ready to share its experience and capabilities in all four main domains of counter-terrorism.
Pakistan’s former army chief Raheel Sharif, military commander of the IMCTC, emphasized during the defense ministers’ meeting that the coalition’s sole objective is to fight against terrorism.
“The visit of the Pakistani delegation to Saudi Arabia was very important. Pakistan wants to cooperate with the Muslim world to eliminate terrorism,” foreign relations analyst Rashool Buksh Rais told Arab News.
Lt. Gen. (Retired) Abdul Qayyum, a member of Pakistan’s Senate, told Arab News that Islamabad has long-standing close ties with Riyadh. “Pakistan is worried about the tension in Middle East and we want to play a role in bridging gaps between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.
This was the second visit of the Pakistani premier to Saudi Arabia, his first being the maiden visit after assuming office in August this year.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy close ties. The two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship in 1951 which lays the foundation their bilateral relations.
Pakistan lauds Saudi efforts to bring peace in region
Pakistan lauds Saudi efforts to bring peace in region
Saudi FM meets with Egyptian, Iranian counterparts to discuss Gaza crisis at Oslo Forum
- Meeting came as death toll from ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza reportedly climbed above 55,000
OSLO: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks on Wednesday with his Egyptian counterpart, Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the Oslo Forum 2025 in Norway.
The two ministers discussed Saudi-Egyptian relations as well as key regional developments, with a particular focus on the worsening situation in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting came as the death toll from the ongoing Israel-Hamas war climbed above 55,000, according to figures released Wednesday by the Gaza Health Ministry.
The ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters, said women and children accounted for more than half of the fatalities.
Prince Faisal and Abdelatty reviewed the efforts being made to de-escalate the crisis and support humanitarian relief.
The Kingdom’s Foreign Minister also met with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Oslo on Wednesday.
The two officials reviewed relations between their countries and discussed regional and international developments.
Several arrests made in drug crackdown across Saudi Arabia
- Border Guard patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested 14 Ethiopians for smuggling 260 kg of qat
- In a separate incident, four Ethiopians were arrested for smuggling 28 kg of qat in Al-Farsha governorate
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Border Guard patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested 14 Ethiopians for smuggling 260 kg of qat. In a separate incident, four Ethiopians were arrested for smuggling 28 kg of qat in Al-Farsha governorate.
Security patrols in Asir also arrested a citizen with 11 kg of qat in the same governorate.
In the Al-Dayer sector of the Jazan region, authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle 600 kg of qat. In another case, Border Guard patrols arrested an Ethiopian trying to smuggle 80 kg of qat.
The General Directorate of Mujahideen in Jazan arrested two citizens for selling hashish, while the General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested two Pakistanis and an Indonesian in Jeddah with 1.5 kg of methamphetamine, locally known as shabu.
A citizen was also arrested in the Baha region for selling amphetamine.
Preliminary legal procedures have been completed for all individuals, and the seized narcotics have been handed over to the authorities.
The Saudi government urges anyone with information about smuggling or customs offenses to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number +966114208417, or email 1910@zatca.gov.sa.
All information is treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid information.
KSrelief’s role in global aid efforts praised at UN donor support meeting
- The meeting was organized by the UN Pooled Fund Working Group
RIYADH: Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor general for planning and development at the Saudi aid agency KSrelief and Saudi Arabia’s representative in the Donor Support Group for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, participated in a high-level meeting in Jersey, UK.
The meeting was organized by the UN Pooled Fund Working Group and attended by senior representatives from donor countries and international humanitarian organizations.
In his speech, Al-Ghamdi emphasized the need to strengthen joint action and coordination among donor countries and UN institutions to ensure equitable and effective aid access, especially for the most vulnerable.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the meeting was a key milestone in global efforts to improve financing mechanisms and responses to humanitarian needs.
Al-Ghamdi reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment, under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to continue supporting global humanitarian efforts, helping to protect lives and improve living conditions in affected communities.
He noted that the Kingdom is among the world’s largest humanitarian donors and has led significant initiatives through KSrelief in recent years. These efforts have reached more than 100 countries and were implemented in partnership with UN agencies and international organizations.
At the meeting’s conclusion, participants praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in humanitarian support and stressed the need to sustain international momentum for effective and lasting impact.
Since its launch in May 2015, KSrelief has implemented 3,438 projects worth more than $7.9 billion in 107 countries, in collaboration with at least 318 organizations.
These programs cover food security, early recovery, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, camp coordination, education, protection, emergency aid, logistics, telecommunications, and nutrition.
Historic Qur’an texts displayed at Grand Mosque
- Event highlights the Qur’an’s global relevance and fosters values of tolerance, moderation and balance
MAKKAH: An awareness exhibition aimed at enriching pilgrims’ experiences and spreading the Holy Qur'an’s guidance and cultural insights has opened in the third Saudi expansion area of the Grand Mosque.
The event, launched by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, highlights the Qur’an’s global relevance and fosters values of tolerance, moderation and balance.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, said it underlined the Qur’an’s message and aligned with the leadership’s commitment to serving the holy book and spreading its sciences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity for millions of pilgrims to view rare and ancient copies of the Qur’an, some dating back more than 1,000 years. These include old handwritten copies, wooden panels with Qur’anic verses, and other significant manuscripts.
Saudi, Dutch deal to enhance farm services
- Partnership will focus on improving services in Kingdom’s agricultural sector
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Co. for Agricultural Services, known as AgriServ, and the Netherlands’ Delphy signed a cooperation agreement during the recent GreenTech exhibition in Amsterdam.
The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in the agricultural sector by transferring best practices and advanced expertise, enhancing operational efficiency and improving services for farmers and agricultural establishments across Saudi Arabia.
It was signed by Omar Alsuhaibani, CEO of AgriServ, and Jacco van der Wekken, CEO of Delphy, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The partnership will focus on improving services in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector, including cooperation on certification, specialized training programs, and technical consultations for farmers and agricultural projects.
AgriServ is a government entity established by Cabinet decision and is tasked with providing agricultural services assigned by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
