PM Abbasi discusses bilateral relations with Saudi Crown Prince

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has arrived in Jeddah on his maiden visit to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia after holding the top office, ARY News reported.

He was welcomed by Deputy Governor of Makkah Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz on his arrival at Jeddah Airport.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar are also accompanying the prime minister on his day-long visit to the Kingdom.

The premier held a meeting with Vice Custodian of Harmain Sharifain and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman Al-Saud and discussed bilateral ties and regional situation.

This is his first visit to any foreign country after assuming the office of premiership following the disqualification of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif by the Supreme Court on July 28.

A day before, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a cabinet meeting where the new US strategy for Afghanistan came under discussion, reported Radio Pakistan.

The meeting expressed disappointment over the US policy statement on Afghanistan and South Asia, saying it ignores the enormous sacrifices rendered by Pakistani nation in the war on terrorism.

However, in the preliminary response, Foreign Office maintained that no country in the world has done more than Pakistan to combat the menace of terrorism.

It said Pakistan will continue to be part of the global counter terrorism efforts.

It emphasized that threat to peace and security cannot be isolated from the complex interplay of geopolitics, continued existence of festering disputes and pursuit of hegemonic policies. Non-resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute remains the primary obstacle to peace and stability in the region.

The FO said Pakistan is committed to working with the international community towards the common objective of defeating the forces of terrorism and to promote peace and stability in the South Asian region.