Pakistan will continue its efforts for defusing regional tensions and bringing peace to the region, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman during a phone call on Sunday, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The conversation came amid renewed tensions in the Gulf, with Yemen’s Houthi rebels launching attacks on oil installations in Saudi Arabia earlier this week, injuring 73 people. A day earlier, a crucial Saudi oil pipeline also came under attack by drones launched from Iraq.
During the call, the prime minister condemned the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia’s civilian and economic infrastructure. He expressed alarm that the Houthi actions “threatened regional peace and security and could further disrupt the global economy and energy supplies.”
PM Shehbaz told the Saudi crown prince that he, alongside Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, “would continue their efforts for defusing tensions and bringing peace in the region.” The prime minister lauded the Saudi crown prince for his “wise and sagacious leadership throughout the crisis,” the statement said.
He also conveyed regards to the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
For his part, the Saudi crown prince appreciated Pakistan’s support and its efforts for regional peace and stability, according to the PMO. “The two leaders agreed to continue to remain in close contact, and looked forward to meeting each other at an early date,” the statement added.
The development comes against the backdrop of recent regional security cooperation. In August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkiye signed a defence pact aimed at strengthening collective deterrence and empowering its signatory states to treat an attack against one of them as an attack against all of them. Earlier this week, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif cautioned that the agreement could become operational if tensions escalate further.
The phone call underscores Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement with its key Gulf ally at a time of heightened instability. The prime minister’s emphasis on defusing regional tensions reflects Islamabad’s concern over the potential economic fallout from disruptions to energy supplies, which could have wider repercussions for global markets.
Saudi Arabia has long been a close partner of Pakistan, and the two countries maintain strong defence and economic ties. The recent attacks on Saudi infrastructure have raised alarms across the region, prompting calls for de-escalation and renewed diplomatic efforts.
As the situation evolves, Pakistan’s leadership has signalled its readiness to play a constructive role in promoting peace and stability, aligning with its stated commitment to defusing regional tensions. The international community will be watching closely, given the implications for global energy security and regional order.
Source: Dawn News