RIYADH: Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have expressed satisfaction at existing cooperation in bilateral military and security relations, and agreed to further augment collaboration and cooperation to achieve mutually agreed goals.
According to the joint statement issued about the prime minister’s three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, which is concluding today, the two leaders, at their meeting, reviewed all facets of bilateral cooperation and discussed regional and international issues of mutual interest, state-run Radio Pakistan reported on Sunday.
The two sides discussed ways to strengthen and enhance economic and trade relations by exploring areas of investment and opportunities available in light of Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision and Pakistan’s development priorities emanating from a shift from geo-politics to geo-economics.
The discussions also focused on increasing cooperation in other fields, including energy, science, technology, agriculture and culture.
The Saudi Crown Prince assured the Prime Minister of his country’s continued support to Imran Khan’s vision to transform Pakistan into a modern developed and welfare state.
The two leaders stressed the need for concerted efforts by the Muslim countries to confront extremism and violence, reject sectarianism, and strive to achieve international peace and security.
They also stressed the importance of continuing joint efforts to combat terrorism, in all its forms and manifestations.
They reaffirmed that terrorism cannot and should not be associated with any religion, nationality, civilization, or ethnic group.
The two sides reaffirmed their full support for all the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, especially, their right to self-determination and establishment of their independent state with pre-1967 borders and East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative and relevant UN resolutions.
They also expressed their support for political solutions in Syria and Libya, as well as the efforts of the United Nations and its envoys in this regard.
The two sides also stressed the importance of supporting efforts to reach a comprehensive political solution to the conflict in Yemen based on the Gulf Initiative and its implementation mechanism, the outcomes of the comprehensive national dialogue, and the relevant Security Council resolutions.
Discussing the situation in Afghanistan, the Crown Prince acknowledged Pakistan’s facilitative role in the Afghan peace process.
The two sides, underlining that an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement is the only way forward, urged the Afghan parties to realize the historic opportunity for achieving a political settlement in Afghanistan.
They agreed to continue supporting each other at multilateral fora.
The Crown Prince, welcomed the recent understanding reached between the military authorities of Pakistan and India regarding ceasefire at the Line of Control, which is based on a 2003 understanding between Pakistan and India.
The two sides emphasized the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region.
Meanwhile, Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud on Sunday has said that the visit of Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan to Saudi Arabia is of great importance.
In an interview with Pakistan Television channel, the Saudi Foreign Minister said that both the countries are focusing on strengthening their economic corporation, investment and trade. He also lauded the efforts and vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding regional peace and said that Pakistan is playing key role in eliminating Islamophobia.
Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud further told that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is also willing to pay a visit to Pakistan.
The Saudi Foreign Minister has called for global dialogue amongst the international community to face the challenge of Islamophobia. He said Saudi Arabia and Pakistan are jointly working on various challenges being faced by the Ummah, including Islamophobia.
Appreciating Pakistan’s role in countering Islamophobia, Prince Faisal said OIC is an important platform for Muslim Ummah to take up this issue.
Regarding recent visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Kingdom, he said it will further strengthen decades-old brotherly relations between the two countries. He acknowledged Prime Minister Imran Khan’s vision for regional peace and prosperity.
The Saudi Foreign Minister commended Pakistani expatriates’ role in the development and progress of Saudi Arabia. He said best facilities are provided to Pakistani manpower as per Saudi laws. He said more job opportunities are being made available to Pakistani workers in the Kingdom and his country will welcome more talented labour from Pakistan.
Prince Faisal urged investors to take advantage of the investment opportunities available in both countries.
To a question about environmental challenge, he said Saudi Arabia is focused on tackling the issue of climate change and also stressed for joint efforts in this regard.
Answering another question, the Saudi Foreign Minister said peace in Afghanistan is imperative for regional stability, including tranquility in Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan has called upon the international community to show a common resolve against intolerance and incitement to violence on the basis of religion.
Talking to Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen in Makkah Sunday), he urged the international community to work together for inter-faith harmony and peaceful co-existence.
Highlighting the rise of Islamophobic incidents in different parts of the world, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of a concerted response from the OIC.
The Prime Minister emphasised that it has to be a collective endeavour of the Muslim leadership to make sure that the world recognised the special love and reverence that Muslims have for the Holy Prophet (PBUH). He said it is imperative not to allow anyone to create any linkage between Islam and terrorism.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan Sunday said that the country was passing through a decisive moment and the struggle against corrupt mafia and status quo would succeed soon, leading to Naya Pakistan.
Addressing a gathering of Pakistani community in a ceremony held here in connection with Roshan Digital Account, the prime minister said his government’s struggle was driven mainly for establishment of rule of law in the country.
“It is a decisive moment, the old status quo and a mafia were resisting and trying to save themselves. But public supported my party and the government in the struggle for rule of law,” he added.
The prime minister further said that difference in societies was based upon-the one which had rule of law and the other governed by ‘might is right.’
The system based upon humanity survived and ensured prosperity whereas the rule of jungle led to nowhere, he said. “Those countries prospered where there is rule of law and justice,” he stressed.
The prime minister said the corrupt elements had been united in their efforts to save their skins. “No one can stop this change, due to mass awareness. Social media has brought a change as information travelled very fast. The youth and social media have been the main ingredients of our party’s success,” he opined. He said the struggle continued for that Naya Pakistan which had been envisioned by its founder Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and which must have been realized many years back.
Due to his government’s efforts for Naya Pakistan, the country was rightly back on track and on path to its real destiny.
Appreciating the role of about 9 million overseas Pakistanis in the prosperity of the country, he said, they possessed huge potential and had been the biggest asset. He said their potential was not fully tapped and no efforts were made in the past to pursue them to invest in the country.
The prime minister said the country’s economy was being stabilized as they had passed through the most difficult times with consistent strengthening of its reserves.
He mentioned that government was making efforts to further offer the overseas Pakistanis different products like Roshan digital account because the world was changing at fast pace with the use of latest technology.
About his visit, the prime minister lauded leadership of Saudi Arabia that always supported Pakistan in the most difficult times.
They supported Pakistan and provided oil on deferred payment, similarly, the United Arab Emirates also supported the country, otherwise, Pakistan would have defaulted, entailing severe consequences, he observed.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday performed Umrah after he reached Makkah during his three-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
The prime minister reached Makkah along with his wife and members of the Pakistani delegation to perform the ritual in one of the holiest sites of Islam.
Before performing Tawaf, the doors of the Holy Kaaba were opened for Prime Minister Imran Khan, where he was allowed to witness it from inside.
Earlier, while being in Masjid-e-Nabvi on Saturday, the prime minister was given a rare respect to visit the Sacred Prophetic Chamber, also known as Al Hujratu n-nabaw?yatu l-shar?fa. The Sacred Chamber was once the house (Hujra) of Hazrat Aisha (R.A.).
The prime minister paid his respects at Roza-e-Rasool (Peace be Upon Him).
The prime minister along with his delegation broke fast (Iftar), offered Namaz-e-Maghrib, nawafil and prayed at the Masjid-e-Nabavi (SAAW).
The prime minister was accompanied by his delegation including Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, KP Governor Shah Farman, Senator Faisal Javed and Punjab Minister Abdul Aleem Khan. – NNI