- High-Level Delegation to Hold Talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Bilateral Cooperation and Gulf Security
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8, 2026, leading a high-level delegation for talks aimed at further strengthening Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations and discussing the evolving security situation in the Gulf and the wider Middle East.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced during its weekly press briefing that the Prime Minister will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Defence Forces, and other federal ministers.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will join the delegation from Madinah after concluding his visit to Jordan, where he attended the Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to hold talks with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia. The discussions will focus on enhancing bilateral cooperation, expanding strategic ties, and exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest.
The Foreign Office described the visit as a reflection of the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, built on decades of mutual trust, close cooperation, and brotherly relations.
Focus on Regional Security and Gulf Stability
The visit comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf but is intended to reinforce long-term strategic cooperation beyond the immediate regional crises.
According to the Foreign Office, the two sides will discuss ways to deepen collaboration in political, economic, security, and multilateral fields while enhancing coordination on regional and international issues.
Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to supporting diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Gulf and the Middle East, particularly concerning the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Foreign Office also acknowledged the constructive role played by Oman in promoting regional peace and stability, appreciating Muscat’s continued efforts to encourage dialogue, de-escalation, and peaceful coexistence.
Pakistan Intensifies Regional Diplomatic Engagement
The Foreign Office highlighted Pakistan’s active diplomatic outreach in support of regional peace.
On July 30, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, during which both leaders reviewed developments in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandeb, Palestine, and other regional issues.
Earlier this week, on August 3, Ishaq Dar also spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi to discuss the deteriorating situation in Occupied East Jerusalem and broader regional developments. During the conversation, the Deputy Prime Minister extended an invitation to his Iranian counterpart to visit Pakistan.
Pakistan Reaffirms Support for Palestine at Jordan Ministerial Meeting
Ishaq Dar Participates in International Meeting on Jerusalem
The Foreign Office also briefed the media on Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s visit to Jordan on August 5, where he participated in the Ministerial Meeting on Jerusalem at the invitation of Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
The meeting brought together Arab League members and selected Islamic countries to coordinate a unified response to the deteriorating humanitarian and political situation in Occupied Jerusalem.
Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and reiterated its longstanding position in favor of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous State of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Ishaq Dar held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Jordan, Türkiye, Egypt, Algeria, Iraq, and Somalia.
R-4 Foreign Ministers Call for Lasting Peace
The Foreign Ministers of the R-4 Group—Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye—also held their fifth meeting in Amman.
The ministers reaffirmed their support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-determination and stressed that a just, comprehensive, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue remains essential for peace and stability across the Middle East.
The meeting also underscored the importance of continued diplomatic engagement, close coordination, and dialogue to promote regional peace, stability, and de-escalation.
Pakistan, United States Hold Fourth Counterterrorism Dialogue
Both Countries Reaffirm Commitment to Combat Regional Terrorist Threats
The Foreign Office announced that Pakistan and the United States held the Fourth Round of the Pakistan-U.S. Counterterrorism Dialogue in Washington, D.C., on August 5.
Pakistan’s delegation was led by Special Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Munir.
During the dialogue, both sides reviewed the evolving terrorism threat landscape and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation, including border security, intelligence sharing, and efforts to disrupt terrorist facilitation networks operating across the region.
Pakistan and the United States reaffirmed their shared commitment to countering terrorist organizations threatening regional and international security, including ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), Al-Qaeda, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Pakistan and Australia Review Bilateral Cooperation
Senior Officials Discuss Trade, Security and Economic Partnership
The Foreign Office also announced that Pakistan and Australia held the Ninth Round of Senior Official Talks and the Joint Trade Committee Meeting in Canberra on August 4.
Officials reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and discussed expanding cooperation in political, economic, trade, security, and regional affairs.
Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the Pakistan-Australia partnership.
Pakistan Observes Youm-e-Istehsal
Foreign Office Reaffirms Support for Kashmiris’ Right to Self-Determination
Concluding the weekly briefing, the Foreign Office noted that Pakistan observed Youm-e-Istehsal on August 5, marking the seventh anniversary of India’s unilateral actions of August 5, 2019, in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
Pakistan reiterated its unwavering support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and reaffirmed its commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute through dialogue and international law.
BY: Nadeem Faisal Baiga
