ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on Friday resolved to strengthen bilateral relations between both nations as they discussed the regional situation, the Pakistani foreign office said.

The development comes amid gradually de-escalating tensions in South Asia after India and Pakistan traded missile, drone and artillery strikes this month, killing around 70 people including civilians on both sides.

The situation had alarmed world powers and friendly countries, including Saudi Arabia, and prompted rigorous diplomatic efforts that realized into a ceasefire between the nuclear-armed archfoes on May 10.

At the peak of the four-day conflict, Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir had also visited Pakistan, which followed his surprise stop in New Delhi for talks with Indian officials.

“Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan held talks,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said.

“The leaders reviewed aspects of the deep and brotherly relations between the two countries, reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields, and discussed current regional developments.”

India struck Pakistan on May 7, accusing Islamabad of backing an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people on April 22. Islamabad denies the charge.

Pakistan and India have fought multiple wars, including two of them over the disputed region of Kashmir, since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both rule the region in part but claim it in full.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share close diplomatic and strategic relations. The Kingdom has extended significant support to Pakistan during prolonged economic challenges faced by Islamabad in recent years, including external financing and assistance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programs.

Saudi Arabia has also contributed to global peacemaking efforts by hosting talks and mediating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.

KARACHI: Pakistan’s leading fashion designer, Amir Adnan, says he is eager to open stores and manufacturing facilities in the Arab world, praising Saudi Arabia’s evolving openness and deep cultural sophistication.

In an interview with Arab News this week, he hailed the Arab world’s appreciation for tradition and detail and expressed a desire to re-enter the Middle East market with a more immersive presence.

Adnan shared his observations about the Middle East at a time when Saudi Arabia is undergoing a cultural transformation under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s Vision 2030.

The initiative has opened the Kingdom to global music acts, fashion events, cinema and high-profile platforms like Riyadh Season and the Red Sea International Film Festival, as part of efforts to position it as a regional hub for arts and tourism.

“The Arab world is brilliant, and I’m so happy that it is opening up,” the Pakistani designer, who has previously operated stores in Dubai, said. “Given the opportunity, I would love to go and open up stores over there and have a whole setup over there. We would love to have an office.”

Born in Lahore to a bureaucrat father and a mother from Dhaka’s royal Nawab family, Adnan launched his eponymous brand in 1990 and is credited with modernizing the traditional sherwani. His designs have shaped Pakistani formalwear for more than three decades.

Reflecting on his experience of doing business in the United Arab Emirates, he said Arabs had a distinct appreciation for craftsmanship.

“They appreciated every stitch, every cut, every patch, every fabric, every color combination... they’re very keen observers.”

He also appreciated the historical and intellectual legacy of the Arab world.

“They introduced medicine. They had the first hospital. They gave us algebra, calculus [and] astronomy. So, where did that come from? It’s their sophistication.”

The Pakistani designer, who studied at Karachi’s Institute of Business Administration, said that despite globalization, Arabs remain deeply rooted in their culture.

“If they had given away their culture and, you know, become totally somebody else, I would not feel so good about them. But I love the Arab people because they hold on and they respect their culture.”

Adnan said the fusion of Pakistani craftsmanship with Arab tastes could lead to meaningful collaborations, ranging from fashion to social development.

“They love our fabrics. They love our stitches. They love our handicraft. All we need to do is just convert our garments to blend into their culture,” he said. “I would go there and mix my ability to suit their requirements.”

Beyond commerce, he also envisions joint creative workshops and cultural exchanges.

“We would like to work with their artisans, learn their skills and teach them ours,” he said.

The Pakistani designer believes that fashion should be seen beyond economics.

“Besides just the work and the economics of it, it is also liberation of mind,” he said. “In fact, we’ll be able to incorporate a lot of their craft and their skills into our mainstream work.”

Looking ahead, Adnan said he hopes to establish a full-fledged base in the Kingdom.

“Hopefully, one day, we’d be able to do that — set up an office over there and a whole workshop over there and even start manufacturing there… and take care of all the Arab world.”