No rifts in ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, FO

The Foreign Office on Thursday has denied any rifts between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, saying that the two friendly nations have “unchanged fraternal relations”.

According to the statement of FO spokesperson, Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri, the two countries enjoy unique relations, rooted in religion, culture, and social ties.

“Prime Minister Imran Khan’s remarks and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia attest to the unchanged fraternal relations and close contact between the two countries,” he said.

Chaudhri in his weekly press briefing said Islamabad and Riyadh have strong economic, political, security and military cooperation at all levels.

The FO spokesperson while citing the visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s in Islamabad last year and PM Imran’s visit to Saudi Arabia, said they cemented relations between the two countries and provided new opportunities of cooperation in trade, investment, and other fields

He added that Pakistan appreciates the Kingdom’s role in the Contact Group of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Jammu and Kashmir.

Answering to a question about the normalisation of relations between UAE and Israel, Chaudhri said there was no change in Pakistan’s position on the Palestine-Israel ties.

“Pakistan stands by the commitment realizing the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination for a just, comprehensive and long-lasting peace.

“Pakistan has consistently supported a two-state solution per UNSC and OIC resolutions as well as international law with pre-1967 borders and with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine,” he added.