During a recent official meeting at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca, Saudi de-facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasised the need for communication between Pakistan and India to address their “outstanding issues,” with a focus on the Kashmir dispute in particular, according to news agency PTI.
Shehbaz Sharif and Prince Mohammed bin Salman also emphasised strengthening the brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and looking into opportunities for further cooperation in a joint statement released following their meeting on April 7.
The statement further said that the two leaders spoke about Kashmir and other regional challenges.
To maintain peace and stability in the area, PTI said that “the two sides stressed the importance of dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve the outstanding issues between the two countries, especially the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.”
According to New Delhi, there is no need for third parties to mediate or become involved in the Kashmir dispute; it is a bilateral affair between India and Pakistan.
After the Centre revoked Article 370 of the Constitution on August 5, 2019, removing Jammu and Kashmir’s special status and dividing the state into two Union territories, ties between India and Pakistan worsened even worse. Pakistan reacted strongly to the move, downgrading diplomatic ties and expelling the Indian envoy. The country has consistently asserted that Jammu & Kashmir “was, is, and shall forever” remain an integral part of India.
However, India has consistently stated that it wants peaceful, neighbourly relations with Pakistan free from violence, hatred, and terror.
Regarding the economy of Pakistan
The joint statement continued to emphasise Saudi Arabia’s assistance to Pakistan’s economy and the shared goal of enhancing trade and investment relations.
“The first wave of the investment package, worth $5 billion, which was previously discussed, will be expedited, as both parties affirmed,” the statement read.
The Crown Prince accepted Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation for Bin Salman to make an official visit to Pakistan.