Pakistan PM Meets Saudi Crown Prince on Mideast De-escalation

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah on Thursday, March 13, 2026, to discuss de-escalation efforts amid escalating hostilities in the Middle East that began with strikes on Iran nearly three weeks earlier.

The one-day visit, undertaken at the invitation of the Saudi leader, highlighted Pakistan's commitment to regional stability as Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia, in retaliation for initial assaults attributed to Israel and the United States. Accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Sharif conveyed Islamabad's full solidarity with Riyadh. In a statement from the Prime Minister's Office, Sharif expressed profound appreciation for Saudi Arabia's longstanding support to Pakistan and reaffirmed that the country would stand firmly alongside the kingdom during these challenges. The leaders exchanged views on recent regional developments, bilateral relations and the broader security implications, agreeing to collaborate on restoring peace.

The conflict ignited on February 28 when Israeli forces struck...