PM hopes Gulf crisis will be resolved soon

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who visited Saudi Arabia on Monday to defuse diplomatic tension in the Gulf, has expressed the hope that the current impasse in the Gulf will be resolved soon in the best interest of the Muslim nations, the Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.

Nawaz Sharif has wrapped his day-long visit after holding meeting with King Salman bin Abdul Aziz days after the Kingdom and several other Arab countries severed diplomatic relations with Qatar over terrorism charges. Qatar denied terror charges and said it is ready for talks.

A Foreign Ministry statement said the Prime Minister reaffirmed the strong commitment of the people and the government of Pakistan for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Saudi Arabia and the safety of the sacred places in the Kingdom.

The Pakistani statement quoted King Salman as saying that the fight against extremism and terrorism is in the interest of all Muslims.

He also appreciated the exceptional success of Pakistan against extremism and terrorism, despite challenging situation and environment. He also reiterated strong commitment and the support of the Kingdom for all issues of interest for Pakistan, including matters of its national security.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.

King Salman thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and recalled the special nature of relationship between the kingdom and Pakistan ever since its independence.

While expressing solidarity with the Kingdom and the people of Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister said that the Kingdom had a very special place in the hearts of Pakistanis and that the Muslim world looked up to the King as the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques.

King Salman thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and recalled the special nature of relationship between the kingdom and Pakistan ever since its independence.