RIYADH, Aug 23: Prime Minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday called on King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz and exchanged views with him on issues of mutual interests.

He also called on Saudi Second Deputy Premier and Minister for Defence and Aviation Prince Sultan separately.

Prince Sultan is the next most important Saudi leader after the King and Crown Prince Abdullah, currently on a trip abroad.

Prime Minister Jamali also held an-hour-long one-to-one meeting with the Saudi interior minister Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz.

During the meetings, the two sides discussed the situation developing at the regional and international level besides discussing developments in the Palestinian territories and Iraq as well as the level of cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Jamali thanked the Saudi leadership for their support to Pakistan on the Kashmir issue.

Initially, Prime Minister Jamali and Prince Sultan were aided by their respective delegations.

Information Minister Shaikh Rasheed Ahmad, Minister for Petroleum Nouraiz Shakour, Minister of State for Tourism, Minorities and Culture Rais Muneer Ahmed, Foreign Secretary Riaz H. Khokhar and Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Admiral (Retd) Abdul Aziz Mirza aided the prime minister during the deliberations.

During the meetings, the situation in South Asia and the region reportedly came under discussion.

The prime minister’s entourage also includes NWFP Chief Minister Akram Durrani and chief of Millat Part Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari.

Informed circles are of the view that in the aftermath of the Tuesday bombing of the UN Headquarters in Baghdad, pressure on Pakistan to deploy forces in Iraq may have grown considerably. Earlier reports indicated that the US has also requested some Arab states, including Saudi Arabia and Egypt, to take part in the stabilising force in Iraq.

On Sunday morning, Prime Minister Jamali was scheduled to go to Madina. He is expected to leave for Pakistan on Monday after completing his five-day-long tour to the Kingdom.

APP adds: Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Saturday appreciated King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz’s services for the Ummah and described him as being “a living legend” of the Muslim world.

The prime minister, who called on the king at the Royal Court called Deewan Al Malaki, conveyed best regards of President Gen Pervez Musharraf for the health and long life of King Fahd.

Prime Minister Jamali stated that his visit was part of a process of consultations that exists between the two fraternal countries.

He expressed the gratitude to the Saudi Prince for consistent support of Saudi Arabia for Pakistan in quest of peace and security in South Asia.

The two leaders expressed the resolve that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could play an important role in the Organisation of Islamic Conference and Muslim Ummah for the welfare of the Muslim world.

Prince Sultan acknowledged the excellent relations between the two countries, adding that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia could constitute a force for peace and stability in the Islamic world. After the meeting, Prime Minister Jamali was seen off by the Deputy Defence Minister Prince Bandar bin Sultan.