ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, will depart today on a three-day visit of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This was confirmed by Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi during his weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.
“Although taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit will carry significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations,” said Tahir Andrabi.
According to a statement the Foreign Office released just before Tahir Andrabi’s news briefing, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake a three-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from August 6–8, 2026, to meet the country’s leadership and discuss bilateral relations as well as regional developments.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-level delegation comprising the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and federal ministers.
The visit marks Pakistan’s longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia anchored in decades of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood.
Although taking place against the backdrop of heightened tensions in the Gulf, the visit carries significance beyond the immediate crises and short-term considerations. It will further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reinforce multilateral cooperation.
Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan is continuing its diplomatic efforts to help reduce tensions in the Middle East through peaceful engagement.
The spokesperson said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with the Saudi foreign minister on 30 July to discuss the evolving situation in the region.
According to the Foreign Office, the two leaders exchanged views on developments in the Red Sea, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the situation in Palestine.
He added that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic outreach. The spokesperson further noted that Dar recently visited Jordan, where regional issues were also discussed.
Commenting on broader regional diplomacy, Andrabi said Oman has consistently played a positive and constructive role in promoting peace, stability and de-escalation in the Middle East.
He added that Pakistan appreciates Oman’s continued efforts to support regional peace and security through dialogue and cooperation.
