During a meeting with Pakistani PM Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and PM Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) urged India and Pakistan to resolve the Kashmir issue. The remarks were mentioned in the joint statement issued at the end of Sharif’s visit to Saudi Arabia ahead of Eid.
Resolve Outstanding Disputes
The two leaders held an official meeting on Sunday at the Al-Safa Palace in Makkah Al-Mukarramah. MBS and Sharif stressed the importance of dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve outstanding bilateral issues. They also highlighted the importance of resolving the Jammu and Kashmir dispute to ensure peace and stability in the region.
India has long maintained that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between the two nations, and there is no question of any mediation or intervention in it. Both India and Pakistan enjoy good relations with Saudi Arabia; while Riyadh has expressed concern over the removal of Article 370, including as a part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, it has stopped short of outrightly condemning the move.
📹 | HRH the Crown Prince met with the Prime Minister of Pakistan. 🇸🇦🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/sV0wG5fq09
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) April 7, 2024
The comments regarding Kashmir come as the India-Pakistan ties continue to be strained in the aftermath of the abrogation of Article 370 and the 2019 Pulwama attack. Recently, in his maiden address at the National Assembly upon election, Sharif called for the freedom of Kashmiris.
In what seemed to be a change in tone, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made remarks a few days ago, saying that India and Pakistan should seriously consider resuming trade ties. However, later, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that Islamabad has no plan to resume trade relations with New Delhi.
In the latest controversy, the two countries exchanged bitter remarks after a report said that India had carried out extra-judicial killings of 20 people in Pakistan. While India is said to have rejected the report, Pakistan slammed comments made by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in response to it. Singh had said that India would kill anyone who escaped over the border after carrying out terrorist activities in the country.
Discussions on Gaza
Sharif and MBS also exchanged views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, including the situation in Gaza. The two leaders emphasised the need for international efforts to halt Israeli military operations in Gaza. They urged the international community to realise the need to pressure Israel to cease hostilities, adhere to international law, and facilitate unhindered humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Seeking to reduce the humanitarian impact of the conflict, they discussed the need to advance the peace process as per the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly and the Arab Peace Initiative. Additionally, they talked about the need to find a solution in order to establish an independent state of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Saudi-Pak Economic Cooperation
The Saudi Crown Prince congratulated Sharif on his appointment as Pakistan’s PM and expressed warm wishes for his tenure. The Pakistani PM, in turn, expressed gratitude for Saudi support and hospitality to Pakistan. He also invited MBS to visit Pakistan at the earliest convenience.
Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to bolster bilateral ties and economic cooperation with Saudi Arabia. An official Saudi readout said, “The discussions centred on fortifying the fraternal relations between the two brotherly nations and exploring avenues for enhanced collaboration across various sectors.”
Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia has emerged as a major creditor for the country, extending billions of dollars in aid. This was featured in the discussions between MBS and Sharif, who talked about Saudi Arabia’s supportive role in Pakistan’s economy and the “mutual desire to strengthen trade and investment ties.” The two sides also affirmed their commitment to expediting the first wave of the $5 billion investment package discussed earlier.