Shehbaz Sharif, Asim Munir head to Saudi Arabia as West Asia tensions rise

Lahore,UPDATED: Aug 6, 2026 15:30 IST

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir will visit Saudi Arabia for three days from Thursday, as Islamabad looks to reinforce its strategic partnership with Riyadh amid rising tensions in West Asia. Sharif will lead a high-level delegation for the August 6-8 visit, Pakistan's Foreign Office said.

During the visit, Sharif will meet Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The Foreign Office said talks will focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi ties and exchanging views on regional and international developments of mutual interest. It said the visit reflects the two countries' long-standing partnership, rooted in decades of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood.

The delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other federal ministers. Dar, who also holds the foreign affairs portfolio, has already reached Saudi Arabia after visiting Jordan for a ministerial meeting on Jerusalem and will join Sharif's delegation there.

The visit comes as the conflict in West Asia has widened across several fronts, pushing Gulf countries to step up regional security coordination. The Foreign Office said that, although the visit is taking place amid heightened tensions in the Gulf, it carries significance beyond the immediate crisis and short-term considerations. It said the trip will further strengthen bilateral relations, deepen strategic cooperation, enhance coordination on regional and international issues of mutual interest, and reinforce multilateral cooperation.

Last week, Pakistan said it is "doing its utmost" to bring the US and Iran back to the negotiating table under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed on June 18. Pakistan's diplomatic push has unfolded alongside closer defence ties with Saudi Arabia. On July 30, Saudi Arabia proposed a Multinational Maritime Defence Coalition to protect commercial shipping lanes and critical energy supply routes through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. Reports said 14 countries, including Pakistan, backed the initiative, highlighting growing concern over the security of a vital maritime corridor. Islamabad also reiterated its commitment to Saudi Arabia's security and stressed the need to ensure the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandeb.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia deepened their defence ties last year by signing a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement, which became operational earlier this year. Its implementation coincided with Islamabad's efforts to facilitate dialogue between Iran and the United States, reflecting Pakistan's attempt to balance its close strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia while maintaining communication channels with Tehran. Under the defence framework, Pakistan has also deployed military personnel and aircraft to Saudi Arabia for joint training, defence cooperation and the kingdom's security needs. Saudi Arabia also remains important for Pakistan's economy, with a provisional report by the Ministry of Economic Affairs saying Riyadh extended a fresh USD 3 billion loan in deposits and rolled over the USD 5 billion facility for another three years in 2025-26.

Sharif's visit, with Munir and other senior ministers in the delegation, brings together Pakistan's diplomatic, defence and economic engagement with Saudi Arabia at a time of regional strain and continuing efforts to strengthen bilateral coordination.

With PTI Inputs

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