ISLAMABAD, Jan 30: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will take up vital regional security matters including the brewing crisis over the Iran nuclear programme and the Kashmir issue during Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz’s state visit here that promises to take bilateral relations to a higher plane.

The Saudi king will be visiting Pakistan at the invitation of President Musharraf on Feb 1-2.

Announcing the Saudi king’s visit on Monday Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said: “The visit of the Saudi monarch is taking place at a critical time in the region. The president’s talks with the royal visitor on the evolving security situation in the region will thus be of particular importance.”

She said: “His landmark visit to Pakistan will significantly contribute to raising Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations to a higher plane.”

Notably this will be the first visit by a Saudi monarch to Pakistan in 30 years. Late King Khaled was the last Saudi monarch to visit Pakistan in 1976.

Responding to a question the Spokesperson said issues of regional security that would figure in the bilateral discussions would include the situation arising out of Iran’s nuclear programme and the Kashmir issue. “We would also be discussing Pakistan-India relations and the latest developments with regard to our discussions with India on Kashmir,” she added.

The Spokesperson disagreed with the view that the warming of Saudi Arabia and India relations would eclipse Pakistan-Saudi Arabia ties.

“Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations are very strong and very secure. Our bilateral relations are quantitatively and qualitatively at a different level,” she maintained.—Q.A.