PM arrives in Jeddah as Gulf tensions simmer
ISLAMABAD: Amid tensions in the Gulf due to the US-Iran war and recent attacks on Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday arrived in Jeddah on a three-day official visit during which he will meet the kingdom’s top leadership, including Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman.
Although Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir did not accompany the prime minister, he is expected to join the premier in Saudi Arabia later for important meetings.
On his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, the prime minister was received by Deputy Governor of the Makkah region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, and Minister for Environment, Water and Agriculture Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen Al-Fadhli.
An official in the Prime Minister’s Office told Dawn that soon after arriving in Makkah, the prime minister and his delegation would perform Umrah and meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday (today).
PM Shehbaz will also visit Masjid al-Nabawi (PBUH) in Madina.
In a post on X, the government said the premier had left for Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi are also accompanying the premier on the visit.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, who is currently in Saudi Arabia after concluding a visit to Jordan, will also be part of the delegation.
Earlier, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi announced the visit during a weekly briefing.
“During the visit, the prime minister will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and discussions will focus on consolidating the Pakistan-Saudi bilateral relationship and exchange views on areas of regional and international developments of mutual interests,” he said.
He said the visit marked Pakistan’s “long-standing partnership” with Saudi Arabia, which he described as “anchored in decades of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood”.
Mr Andrabi noted that while the visit was taking place amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, “it will carry immense significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations”.
He said the visit would “further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest and also reinforce multilateral cooperation”.
An official statement regarding the visit was also issued shortly afterwards.
The premier had last visited Saudi Arabia in April, where he met the kingdom’s top leadership.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will also pay a one-day visit to Saudi Arabia today, where he is expected to meet PM Shehbaz and the Saudi crown prince, Anadolu Agency reported.
As the Middle East conflict has expanded onto new fronts, Saudi Arabia has unveiled plans for a multinational maritime defence coalition to protect shipping and energy supply routes in the Red Sea. Fourteen countries, including Pakistan, have voiced support for the coalition.
Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2026
