Afghanistan on the agenda… Pakistani Prime Minister to visit Saudi Arabia next week

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan will arrive in Saudi Arabia next week for an official visit at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane.

According to German news agency, which reported the news, the Pakistani Prime Minister will discuss a number of issues during the visit, foremost among which are Afghanistan and bilateral military and security relations between Riyadh and Islamabad.

The news agency quoted a source in the capital Riyadh as saying that during his meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed ben Salmane, Saudi Arabia’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, the Pakistani prime minister will review “bilateral relations between the two countries and discuss the developments in Afghanistan.”

During the talks, the two sides will stress “the depth of relations between the two countries and the importance of expanding and intensifying the prospects of bilateral cooperation and coordination in various fields, as well as the exchange of views on issues of common interest on the regional and international arenas, in a way that contributes to strengthening and enhancing security and stability,” the source added.

According to the source, the two sides will discuss ways to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries by exploring investment opportunities in light of Saudi Arabia’s vision 2030, Pakistan’s development priorities, and stressing “the strength of bilateral military and security relations.”

During the visit, the Pakistani prime minister will participate in the Green Middle East Initiative summit, convened by the Saudi crown prince. The summit will be hosted by Riyadh on October 25th in the presence of a number of world leaders.

Last month, during a telephone conversation with the Pakistani prime minister, Prince Mohammed ben Salmane affirmed the kingdom’s support for the Afghan people in order to achieve security and stability in Afghanistan.