Saudi minister arrives in Islamabad amid India-Pakistan tensions following New Delhi visit
ISLAMABAD: Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir arrived in Islamabad on Friday after a visit to New Delhi, as tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan continue to escalate.
Al-Jubeir's visit follows India's military strikes inside Pakistan in response to a gun attack in the disputed region of Kashmir that left 26 tourists dead, with New Delhi blaming Islamabad for the incident, though Pakistani authorities repeatedly denied any involvement.
With the two archrivals teetering on the edge of a full-scale war, the United States announced on Thursday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had discussed regional de-escalation with Saudi officials. The same day, Al-Jubeir also made a surprise stop in New Delhi for talks with Indian officials.
'Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar will receive Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today,' said an official statement prior to the Saudi official's arrival in Islamabad.
State media later broadcast visuals of Al-Jubeir disembarking from his aircraft in Islamabad.
According to Pakistan's Geo News, the Saudi minister is expected to meet with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir during his visit.
While the Pakistani government has not officially disclosed the purpose of Al-Jubeir's visit, it is anticipated that discussions will focus on the ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan, as well as other issues of mutual interest.
Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share close diplomatic and strategic relations.
The Kingdom has extended significant support to Pakistan during its prolonged economic challenges in recent years, including external financing and assistance with International Monetary Fund (IMF) loan programs.
Saudi Arabia has also contributed to global peacemaking efforts by hosting talks and mediating prisoner exchanges between Russia and Ukraine.
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