Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concludes Pakistan visit

ISLAMABAD: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman concluded his two-day visit to Pakistan (From 17-18 February 2019) and left Islamabad today, Monday.Prime Minister Imran Khan, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, federal cabinet ministers and senior civil and military officials saw off Saudi Prince at Noor Khan airbase.PM Khan personally drove Saudi Prince to the Noor Khan airbase.Saudi Prince visited Pakistan on the invitation of Prime Minister Imran Khan.The visit laid the foundation for a new chapter in Pakistan-Saudi relationship, marked by high level institutional framework to guide future direction of political, diplomatic, economic, investment, trade, people-to-people, defence, security and cultural aspects. The establishment of Supreme Coordination Council, its subsidiary mechanism and the Council's inaugural session in Islamabad were one of the key steps in shaping the new trajectory in the bilateral relationship. Investment and trade relations received high priority during the visit as demonstrated by the Saudi announcement of investments $ 20 billion. The two sides signed a range of Agreements and MoUs in several areas. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the Crown Prince for his immediate consent to release 2107 prisoners from Saudi jails. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia issued a joint statement which is being issued separately. The joint statement, while reaffirming the historic relationship between the two brotherly countries, applauds the growing momentum in bilateral ties in all areas. The Saudi side praised Prime Minister Imran Khan's dialogue offer to India including the initiative on opening of Kartarpur corridor. Both sides stressed that dialogue is the only way to ensure peace and stability in the region and to resolve the outstanding issues. Both sides strongly condemned the atrocities and human rights violations committed against Muslims around the world. The Prime Minister briefed the Crown Prince on the grave human rights violations in IOK and the need for resolution of Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and wishes of the Kashmiri people. The statement also articulates the common positions of the two countries on a range of regional peace and security and international issues including inter alia challenges faced by the Islamic Ummah, interfaith harmony, counter terrorism, among others. The Prime Minister and the Crown Prince spoke to the media at the airport.