Saudi state minister to visit Pakistan on Wednesday

Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir is arriving in Islamabad on Wednesday on a day-long visit to Pakistan.

During his stay, he will hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and discuss bilateral relations and regional situation.

Adel Al-Jubeir held a meeting with Pakistan Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz in Riyadh on September 1 to discuss the situation in Kashmir besides other issues.

He also discussed Prime Minister Imran Khan’s likely visit to Saudi Arabia after his UN visit later this month.

Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Raja Ali Ejaz, held a wide-ranging meeting with Al-Jubeir in Riyadh.

The meeting reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries and explored issues of common concern.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed “latest developments in the region” in a telephonic conversation, according to reports.

According to the agency, the two reviewed relations between the two countries and the latest developments in the region.

Tuesday marked the third time in less than a month when Prime Minister Imran and Saudi crown prince discussed grave rights violations in Indian held Kashmir over the telephone.

Earlier on Aug 19, the crown prince dialed the Prime Minister to “discuss the ongoing situation in occupied Kashmir”.

The visit of State Minister Al-Jubeir comes at a time when tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, India and Pakistan, are at an all-time high following the Indian decision to strip held Kashmir of its special status through a rushed presidential decree.

Saudi Arabia, which is a crucial strategic partner of Pakistan, has deep corporate ties with India which, boasting of its massive population, offers a huge consumption market.

On Aug 12, state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco bought a 20% stake in Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Limited’s (RIL) flagship chemicals and refining business in a deal valued at $15 billion.