ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will leave for Saudi Arabia on a day-long visit today (Thursday), the PM’s Office said on Wednesday.
During the visit, the prime minister will discuss the evolving situation in Yemen and express solidarity with the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia. Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Chief of the Army Staff General Raheel Sharif, PM’s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry will accompany the prime minister during his visit to the Saudi kingdom. The decision was taken during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz at the PM House, where he also welcomed the Saudi announcement of halting its airstrikes in Yemen and entering the phase of political dialogue. The meeting was attended by the Defence minister, Finance minister Ishaq Dar, the Army chief, and Secretary Foreign Affairs Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry.
Sources said the visit by the prime minister himself along with COAS would be aimed at giving a categorical assurance to the Saudi leadership that Pakistan would stand by the kingdom and final decision about military assistance would be decided during the visit. A high level preparatory meeting for the visit was chaired by the prime minister on Wednesday to discuss the Yemen issue. While speaking to the participants, the premier also welcomed Saudi Arabia’s decision of halting air strikes in Yemen and said this would pave the way for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
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