SRINAGAR: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has lauded the India Pakistan ceasefire on the Line of Control (LoC), Pakistan media reported. The observations have come during the meeting between Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and MbS. Khan is on a three-day visit to the Kingdom.
#Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and #SaudiArabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman signedagreement on establishment of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council in Jeddah || #PMIKinKSA #رئيس_وزراء_باكستان_في_السعودية https://t.co/38JVKN4ZFK
— Arab News Pakistan (@arabnewspk) May 8, 2021
“The crown prince welcomed the recent understanding reached between the military authorities of Pakistan and India regarding ceasefire at the Line of Control (LoC), which is based on a 2003 understanding between Pakistan and India,” Pakistan newspaper Express Tribune reported. It quoted the Islamabad formal statement adding: “The two sides emphasised the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially Jammu and Kashmir dispute, to ensure peace and stability in the region.”
Khan and MbS met in Jeddah and held wide-ranging talks on bilateral, regional and international issues. “The talks were marked by exceptional cordiality and a commitment to fortify the upward trajectory in the bilateral relationship.” The two sides also agreed upon further deepening cooperation in all fields. “The two leaders reaffirmed the strong and historic bonds between the two countries rooted firmly in shared beliefs, common values, mutual trust and a longstanding tradition of mutual support,” the press release added.
The two leaders discussed Afghanistan and Yemen also. “Special emphasis was laid on increasing Saudi investments in Pakistan, collaboration in the field of energy, and increased job opportunities for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia,” the newspaper quoted MoFA saying. Later, they signed the establishment of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Council (SPSCC), co-chaired by the two and designed to impart strategic direction to the development of bilateral relations.
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India Today reported that it was Khan’s seventh visit to the wealthy kingdom since his 2018 election. “They affirmed the depth of relations between the two brotherly countries and underscored the importance of expanding and intensifying aspects of bilateral cooperation and coordination,” India Today quoted a Saudi statement said.
Though the two countries were in the lowest of the relations, India Today reported that “Khan’s visit appeared to have restored cooperation” between the two Islamic countries that are both heavily engaged in the “war on terror” which requires effective intelligence sharing. “The two sides stressed the need for concerted efforts by the Islamic world to confront extremism and violence, and reject sectarianism,” the Saudi statement added.
