Saudi Arabia’s Chief of General Staff General Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday in Islamabad. Both sides discussed ways to deepen defence and security cooperation. The prime minister also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its historic ties with the kingdom.
During the meeting, PM Shehbaz conveyed warm wishes to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. He praised Saudi Arabia’s unwavering support for Pakistan and said the bilateral relationship rests on shared faith, values and trust. He noted that recent agreements, including the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, showed strong progress.
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The prime minister highlighted his recent visits to Riyadh and stressed the need for expanding joint training and military exchanges. He also said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share a firm resolve to combat terrorism and extremism. Moreover, he called for continued cooperation to promote regional peace and stability.
General Al-Ruwaili conveyed greetings from Saudi leadership and reaffirmed the kingdom’s desire to elevate its strategic partnership with Pakistan. Senior Pakistani officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, also attended the meeting. Their presence underscored the importance of the discussions.
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Earlier in the day, General Al-Ruwaili met COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir at the General Headquarters. Both sides reviewed defence collaboration, military training, and counter-terrorism cooperation. The Saudi general appreciated Pakistan’s long-standing support and expressed commitment to further strengthening defence ties.