Shehbaz Sharif set for Saudi Arabia visit as high-level diplomacy intensifies, report says

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is likely to visit Saudi Arabia within the next 48 hours following an invitation from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to media reports.

During the visit, Shehbaz Sharif is expected to hold high-level consultations on key regional and international developments, reflecting ongoing diplomatic coordination between Islamabad and Riyadh.

The reported visit comes shortly after major talks held in Islamabad, which continued from Saturday into early Sunday. These discussions were described as the highest-level engagement between the two sides since Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.

The talks also took place in the backdrop of recent regional tensions, including a ceasefire between the United States and Iran aimed at ending weeks of conflict that disrupted energy supplies and raised concerns over wider instability in the Gulf region.

Financial cooperation is also expected to feature prominently during the Saudi visit. Saudi Arabia and Qatar have previously pledged around USD 5 billion in assistance for Pakistan, highlighting the economic dimension of the bilateral relationship.

The Pakistani delegation is expected to include Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb may also join the visit depending on the completion of his ongoing trip to the United States.

Relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have deepened further following the signing of a mutual defence pact in September 2025, under which both countries agreed to treat aggression against one as an attack on both.

Reports also indicate increased military cooperation, including the deployment of Pakistani troops and air force assets to Saudi Arabia under joint coordination arrangements aimed at strengthening operational readiness and regional security.

The upcoming visit is seen as part of continuing efforts to reinforce strategic, defence, and economic ties between the two long-standing allies amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.