Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to visit Saudi Arabia within the next 48 hours following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as regional tensions rise after inconclusive talks between United States (US) and Iran in Islamabad.
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According to official sources, the visit to Riyadh will focus on consultations over regional and international developments, alongside efforts to strengthen economic and strategic cooperation between the two long-standing allies.
The high-level trip comes shortly after intensive US-Iran negotiations held in Islamabad, which lasted more than 21 hours but ended without a formal agreement. The talks were seen as the most significant direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in over a decade, taking place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in the Gulf region.
Following the failed diplomatic breakthrough, tensions escalated further as the United States signaled increased maritime restrictions on Iranian-linked shipping routes, raising concerns over stability in the Strait of Hormuz and global energy supplies.
During the Saudi visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold detailed discussions with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on regional security, diplomatic coordination, and expanding bilateral economic cooperation. Financial assistance packages recently announced by Riyadh and Doha are also expected to feature prominently in the talks.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb is also expected to join the delegation depending on his schedule.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have significantly deepened their strategic partnership in recent years, including a mutual defence agreement signed in 2025, under which both countries committed to treating any aggression against either side as a joint threat.
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Officials say the upcoming visit reflects Islamabad’s continued diplomatic engagement amid evolving regional dynamics and its efforts to support stability in the Middle East.