PM assures Saudis of support after drone strikes on Saudi oil installations
monitoring desk
ISLAMABAD
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday called on Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman on his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia to discuss “grave situation” in Indian occupied Kashmir in the wake of abrogation of its special status leading to escalated tensions between two neighbouring countries.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the PM apprised the crown prince of the latest developments in Kashmir and also expressed solidarity with the prince over drone strikes on Saudi oil installations.
The strikes were said to involve at least 20 drones and several cruise missiles and forced Saudi Arabia to shut down half its oil production capacity, or 5.7 million barrels per day of crude — 5% of the world’s global daily oil production.
The leadership of both countries also discussed ways to strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, the PMO statement said.
The visit to the Kingdom came after Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Ahmed Al Jubeir visited Islamabad as a result of direct telephone calls by the premier to the crown princes of the two countries.
The PM has been in “regular contact” with the Saudi crown prince over the Kashmir issue, part of his efforts to highlight Kashmir issue internationally.
He will also underscore the Kashmir crackdown at the United National General Assembly (UNGA) platform during his visit to New York by the end of this month.
The meeting was attended by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfikar Bukhari, Foreign Secretary Sohail Mehmood, and Pakistan’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia Raja Ali Ejaz.
Kashmir lockdown
The Indian government has continued the shutdown of internet and mobile phone services, while simultaneously banning public meetings and imposing restrictions on freedom of movement since August 5.
