JEDDAH, 26 May 2004 — Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali yesterday expressed high hopes for the future of his country’s relations with Saudi Arabia. “The two countries will support and stand by each other and this relationship will continue to grow in strength in the years ahead,” he said.
In a statement after a meeting with Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd at Al-Salam Palace here, the prime minister also reiterated Islamabad’s support for the Kingdom’s efforts to achieve world peace and stability, especially its Middle East peace initiative.
During the meeting, Jamali told King Fahd about the process of a composite dialogue with India to resolve issues of contention including Kashmir. The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan, the Saudi Press Agency said.
Jamali described his meeting with King Fahd as “very good” and said the king had asked him to convey his goodwill to Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf.
Jamali also met with Interior Minister Prince Naif and expressed his country’s support to the Kingdom’s efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking and backed steps taken by the Saudi government to counter terrorism, extremism and violence.
Prince Naif expressed appreciation for Musharraf’s doctrine of “enlightened moderation” saying it could help project the Ummah in a positive light. He also endorsed Pakistan’s efforts to reinvigorate the Organization of the Islamic Conference as a forum for the promotion of the interests of the Muslim world.
Abdullah Meets Townsend
Crown Prince Abdullah held talks here yesterday with Frances Townsend, deputy assistant to the US president for internal security affairs and deputy national security adviser for combating terrorism, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Townsend handed to the crown prince a message from US President George W. Bush.
Saudi Arabia has launched a major campaign against terrorism and taken a number of measures to combat terror financing and money laundering. The measures included freezing accounts suspected of illegal dealings.
