ALBAWABA- Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday for an official state visit at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
He was warmly received at King Khalid International Airport by Riyadh’s Deputy Governor Prince Muhammad bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq, and senior Saudi officials.
Pakistani flags lined the streets of Riyadh to mark the occasion. Later, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Prime Minister Sharif at the Royal Diwan in Al-Yamamah Palace, where an official reception ceremony was held.
During bilateral talks, the two leaders are expected to review the full spectrum of Pakistan–Saudi Arabia relations and exchange views on key regional and global developments.
Officials say the visit is aimed at deepening cooperation across multiple sectors and consolidating what both sides describe as a historic and brotherly partnership, rooted in shared faith, values, and mutual trust.
This is Prime Minister Sharif’s third trip to the Gulf within a week. He visited Qatar twice earlier to express solidarity following Israeli strikes on a Hamas delegation in Doha and to participate in an emergency Arab-Islamic summit.
His Saudi visit comes at a critical moment: Israel’s continued assaults in Gaza, mounting Iran–Israel confrontations during the ongoing 12-day war, and a heated diplomatic clash between Israeli and Pakistani envoys at the United Nations.
The visit also follows months of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, during which Islamabad claimed a historic military victory after downing five Indian fighter jets in retaliation for cross-border strikes.
Analysts in Pakistan suggest Sharif’s Riyadh visit could carry “surprises” with the potential to reshape the regional landscape.
