ISLAMABAD(National times)- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif today welcomed General Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al Rowaili, Chief of General Staff of the Saudi Armed Forces, at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. During the meeting, the prime minister conveyed his best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, while reaffirming Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to strengthening historic brotherly ties in all sectors, including economic, defence, and security. The premier praised Saudi Arabia for its unwavering support and solidarity with Pakistan, emphasising that relations between the two nations are built on shared faith, common values, and mutual trust. He also highlighted his highly successful visits to Riyadh over the past two months, which resulted in the signing of a historic Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement (SMDA). PM Shehbaz Sharif and General Al Rowaili underscored the joint commitment of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to combat all forms of terrorism and extremism. Both sides highlighted their determination to contribute to peace and stability in the region, reinforcing the bilateral defence relationship as a cornerstone of broader regional security. The meetings were attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi, and senior officials from both nations, reflecting the high-level engagement and strategic significance of the discussions.

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The visit of General Al Rowaili also included a call on Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. The leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, focusing on the enhancement of military collaboration, security cooperation, and counter-terrorism initiatives. General Al Rowaili laid a floral wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada and was received with a Guard of Honour, reflecting the high regard in which Saudi-Pakistani defence relations are held. Both the military leaders emphasised the importance of deepening defence partnerships through joint training, exercises, and exchanges of expertise. General Al Rowaili expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s ongoing cooperation across multiple fields and reiterated Saudi Arabia’s desire to elevate the existing strategic and defence partnership to new heights.