ISLAMABAD: Former Saudi ambassador to Pakistan Dr Ali Awadh Asseri has hoped that consultations between the leadership of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would yield positive results not only for the two countries but also for the wider region.

Speaking on Pakistan TV’s programme The Newsroom, Dr Asseri, while referring to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, said the engagement was particularly significant given the challenging situation in the region.

He expressed optimism that high-level engagement between their leadership would contribute to regional peace and stability.

The former envoy said relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia remained unique, profound and durable.

“I have no illusion whatsoever that the visit of the prime minister and the consultation between the two leaderships will achieve good, hopefully peace and tranquility for both nations to begin with and for the whole region,” he said.

Dr Asseri said Pakistan-Saudi relations had deep historical roots and continued to grow stronger with successive governments in both countries.

“The unique thing about this relationship is that it is a people-to-people relationship, and that is what makes it special,” he said, adding that while leaders may change, the relationship continues to be reinforced by new leadership in both countries.

Highlighting the scope of cooperation between the two countries, Dr Asseri said the relationship encompassed economic and military cooperation, including a defence pact.

He also pointed to the presence of around 2.5 million Pakistanis living and working in Saudi Arabia as a key pillar of bilateral ties.

The former ambassador also stressed the importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in the region.

He said Saudi Arabia and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries had supported dialogue between the United States and Iran, facilitated by Oman’s foreign minister, in the hope that it would yield positive results.

He said Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other GCC states were keen to see tensions reduced as the conflict served neither the Islamic world’s interests nor the global economy, particularly amid disruptions to global oil supplies and rising prices.

Articles tagged with "Dr Ali Awadh Asseri"

Consultations between Pakistan, Saudi leaderships to yield positive results for wider region: former envoy