Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia and strengthening bilateral cooperation during a meeting with the kingdom’s newly appointed ambassador, Dr Rajeh Tami Albugamy, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
The prime minister welcomed the ambassador to Pakistan and congratulated him on assuming his new diplomatic responsibilities.
Albugamy took charge in Islamabad on Thursday, reiterating his commitment to further strengthening the strategic and longstanding fraternal relations between the two countries.
During the meeting, Shehbaz said Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations had made significant progress in recent years and stressed Islamabad’s resolve to expand cooperation across various sectors.
The prime minister also strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, which had resulted in deaths and injuries, including among Pakistani nationals, according to the PMO statement.
Shehbaz said the two countries had consistently supported each other, describing the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance as historic milestones in their longstanding relationship.
He said the agreements reflected the shared commitment of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to regional peace and security.
The prime minister also expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for its continued economic and financial assistance to Pakistan and assured the new envoy of Islamabad’s full cooperation in further strengthening bilateral ties.
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met Ambassador Albugamy, reaffirming the longstanding fraternal and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, according to the Foreign Office (FO).
Dar emphasised the two countries’ shared commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation for mutual progress and prosperity.
The Foreign Office said the Saudi envoy conveyed greetings from the kingdom’s leadership to Pakistan. Dar reciprocated by extending his best wishes to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and other Saudi leaders.
The diplomatic engagements come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and an escalation in attacks involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia.
On Wednesday, the Houthis said they had targeted facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco after Saudi officials reported a strike on a building in Riyadh housing the energy company’s operations centre.
Explosions were also reported in the Saudi capital after the coalition fighting the Houthis said it had intercepted a missile fired towards Riyadh.
A day earlier, Saudi Arabia launched strikes on Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, targeting fuel and energy facilities that Riyadh said were being used to support missile and drone attacks. The Houthis subsequently threatened a “harsh and painful” response against Saudi airports, refineries and oil installations.
Saudi authorities later issued warnings about potential hostile aerial threats in Riyadh and the kingdom’s eastern province.
Witnesses reported loud explosions near Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran, and a Saudi energy ministry official subsequently confirmed an attack. Saudi Arabia’s civil defence agency said debris from two intercepted Houthi cruise missiles wounded four people — two women, a man and a child — in the capital and damaged 15 homes.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted Saudi airports, oil facilities and tankers following the collapse of a truce in their long-running conflict with Yemen’s coalition-backed government in July.
Pakistan has repeatedly expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia amid the escalating regional tensions.
On October 5, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye agreed at an emergency meeting of the Makkah pact in Riyadh to the rapid deployment of military forces and capabilities.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who attended the meeting as part of Pakistan’s delegation, said Pakistan and Turkiye had a “presence in theatre”, while Saudi troops alone were involved in combat operations.
On September 18, Inter-Services Public Relations Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan would go to “any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia, describing Islamabad’s commitment to the kingdom’s security as “unconditional”.
Asif has also stated that Pakistan would support Saudi Arabia both practically and diplomatically if the conflict involving Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated. He said Islamabad would fulfil its obligations under the Makkah Defence Alliance in accordance with the agreement between the three countries.
Pakistan has also maintained that the alliance is defensive in nature and intended to promote collective deterrence.
