ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Jeddah on Thursday for a brief official visit as tensions across the Middle East intensify following the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), PM Sharif is expected to hold discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the evolving regional situation, security dynamics and bilateral relations between the two longstanding allies.
“During the stay, the prime minister will have a brief visit to the Kingdom and will return to Pakistan after holding a meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince,” the PMO said in a statement.
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PM Sharif was received upon arrival at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport by Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, along with Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmed Farooq, Consul General Syed Mustafa Rabbani, and other diplomatic officials.
The visit comes at a time of heightened regional uncertainty after coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets triggered retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Middle East, raising fears of a wider conflict that could draw in Gulf states and threaten critical energy routes.
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Pakistan has consistently called for restraint and diplomacy as the crisis deepens. In a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi reiterated Islamabad’s concerns over the escalating hostilities. “Pakistan also strongly condemned attacks by Iran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates,” Andrabi said, describing them as violations of the sovereignty of Gulf states.
The prime minister’s visit underscores the close strategic partnership between Islamabad and Riyadh at a time when regional leaders are intensifying consultations to prevent further escalation and protect stability across the Middle East.
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Also, Pakistan on Thursday said it actively playing the role of a “bridge builder” to help de-escalate rising tensions in the Middle East while simultaneously advancing diplomatic engagement across the region.
Speaking at a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had departed for a brief official visit to Saudi Arabia aimed at strengthening coordination on regional peace and security. The PM is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan’s principled stance based on respect for sovereignty, adherence to international law, and commitment to diplomacy had earned trust across regional capitals, enabling Islamabad to maintain open channels of communication among key stakeholders during the ongoing crisis.
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He emphasized that Pakistan has consistently urged all parties involved in the escalating conflict to adhere to three fundamental principles: respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, refraining from the use of force within each other’s territories, and upholding international law and the principles enshrined in the United Nations Charter while pursuing dialogue for a peaceful negotiated settlement.
“Pakistan’s balanced and principled approach allows it to serve as a bridge builder between relevant capitals,” the spokesperson said, adding that diplomacy and engagement remained the only viable path toward lasting regional stability.
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The FO spokesperson highlighted that since the outbreak of hostilities on February 28, Pakistan’s top leadership remained in constant contact with regional and international leaders through an extensive series of high-level engagements.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has held multiple telephone conversations with leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Bahrain, Oman, Türkiye, Malaysia, Lebanon, Azerbaijan and other countries, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity and urging restraint and de-escalation, he added.
In parallel, he said, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has maintained continuous diplomatic outreach, holding discussions with foreign ministers from Iran, Saudi Arabia, China, Canada, Oman, Bahrain, Azerbaijan, Malaysia, Bangladesh and Gulf Cooperation Council leadership, among others, to explore pathways toward peace and stability.
Pakistan also condemned attacks targeting several regional states, including Iran and multiple Gulf countries, stressing that violations of sovereignty risk widening the conflict and destabilising the entire region.
Reiterating Islamabad’s official position, Andrabi said Pakistan condemned unwarranted attacks that undermined ongoing diplomatic efforts and warned that continued escalation could have far-reaching consequences for regional and global peace.
Throughout the conflict, Pakistan has consistently advocated restraint, respect for sovereignty, and renewed diplomatic engagement under the framework of international law and the UN Charter.
Turning to the Pakistan-Afghanistan border situation, the spokesperson said Pakistan’s recent targeted operations were conducted with due diligence to avoid civilian harm, stressing that Pakistan harbours no hostility toward Afghan citizens.
“They are our brothers and sisters, and we seek no harm to them,” he said.
However, Andrabi underscored that Pakistan continues to seek verifiable assurances from Afghan authorities that Afghan territory will not be used for cross-border terrorism against Pakistan.
Since such assurances have yet to materialize, he said, Pakistan would continue implementing its existing policy framework toward Afghanistan.
To a question, he said the recent visit by an Afghan delegation was private not official.
The FO spokesperson also expressed serious concern over a long-term uranium supply agreement between Canada and India, describing it as a country-specific exception that undermines the credibility of the global nuclear non-proliferation regime.
He argued that civil nuclear cooperation should follow a non-discriminatory, criteria-based approach applicable equally to all non-signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Andrabi said Pakistan would continue pursuing an active diplomatic role aimed at reducing tensions, facilitating dialogue, and promoting peaceful coexistence in the Middle East and beyond.
He confirmed that two Pakistani nationals lost their lives during recent violence in the United Arab Emirates, expressing condolences to the bereaved families. Pakistani missions facilitated the repatriation of the deceased and continue to assist citizens affected by the crisis.
A Crisis Management Unit has been operating round the clock, while special facilitation desks and digital registration platforms have been established at missions abroad to support stranded Pakistanis with travel arrangements, visa assistance and logistical coordination, he said.