Prince Mohammad bin Salman with Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Raheel Sharif during the official reception ceremony in Islamabad yesterday (Photo: Bandar al-Jaloud)

The Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammad bin Salman bin Abdulaziz who is also Second Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence ended his visit to Pakistan yesterday during which he held talks with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif.

Informed sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that Pakistan’s chief of army staff assured Prince Mohammad bin Salman that “the Pakistani armed forces and the entire Pakistani nation will not allow anyone to violate the security and stability of Saudi Arabia, and that anyone who thinks of attacking Riyadh must consider the Pakistani response which will confront anyone plotting against Saudi Arabia”.

Raheel Sharif also mentioned that Prince Mohammad bin Salman had visited Islamabad under the direction of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and in response to the invitation of the Pakistani government.

Before the meeting, an official welcoming ceremony was held for the Deputy Crown Prince where the national anthems of the two countries were played and the guard of honour was inspected. The meeting reviewed the existing cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan especially in the areas of defence and how to develop them.

After leaving Pakistan, Prince Mohammad bin Salman sent a letter to the Pakistani prime minister thanking him for the warm welcome and confirmed that the visit “allowed us to discuss issues of common interest which reflects the strength of the strategic relations between our brotherly countries and the desire to strengthen and deepen these relations in all areas”.