RIYADH, Dec 13: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Wednesday vowed to deepen their multifaceted and strategic relations to new heights by enhancing cooperation in the war on terror and increasing collaboration in defence, security, trade and investment.
The wide-ranging talks between King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the Janadariya Farm House stretched well beyond the scheduled time of one hour to over three hours. The two leaders also had a one-to-one meeting.
The king, in a rare gesture, invited the prime minister to his farm house, where they took into account matters covering the whole gamut of relations besides regional and international issues of mutual interest.
The two leaders also reiterated their countries' stance of always standing by each other.
The prime minister said that Saudi Arabia had always stood by Pakistan and Islamabad was proud of its ties with Riyadh.
Mr Aziz's visit, part of regular high-level consultations between the two countries, also took into account their close relations including political, diplomatic and economic.
The king also hosted a banquet in honour of the prime minister that was also attended by Senior Adviser Sharif-ud-Din Pirzada, Minister for Defence Production Maj. (retd) Habibullah Warraich, Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao, Minister for Population Welfare Chaudhry Shahbaz Hussain and State Minister for Foreign Affairs Khusro Bakhtyar.
Mr Aziz recalled the visits of the king and the crown prince to Pakistan and said these were reflective of the close relations between the leadership of the two countries.
The prime minister also apprised the king of Pakistan's position in the region, its role as a front-line state in the war on terror and its efforts for bringing about a lasting peace in the region.
The two leaders vowed to continue to play their active role in ensuring peace in the region through increased cooperation.
The king and the prime minister called for removing the misperceptions that create any linkages between Islam and terrorism.
The prime minister told the king about the ongoing composite dialogue between Pakistan and India to seek a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the core issue of Kashmir according to aspirations and wishes of the Kashmiri people. The two leaders also took into account the situation in the Middle East and called for an early resolution of the Palestine issue to ensure peace not only in the region but for the world at large.—APP