RIYADH, 1 January 2003 — Custodian of the two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, met Pakistani Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and discussed developments in the Mideast and the Iraq crisis, the SPA news agency reported.
The talks focused on “the situation in the Middle East, topped by the Palestinian issue and the developments in the Gulf region,” SPA said.
Prime Minister Jamali conveyed his best wishes to King Fahd and reiterated Pakistan’s solidarity with Saudi Arabia.
He also conveyed President Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s best wishes for the king, according to a Pakistan Embassy statement.
King Fahd told the prime minister that Saudi Arabia will always remain Pakistan’s close friend.
Prince Abdullah and Jamali also discussed developments in the Arab and Muslim world and cooperation between the two countries. Iraq, Afghanistan and matters related to the OIC figured in the meeting, the embassy statement said.
Prime Minister Jamali briefed Prince Abdullah on Pakistan’s relations with India and discussed the issue of Kashmir that has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan. Jamali emphasized that a dialogue between India and Pakistan was necessary to defuse tension and resolve the issue.
The crown prince thanked the prime minister for his visit to the Kingdom and acknowledged that friendship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia was exemplary. He assured Jamali that Saudi Arabia will always stand by Pakistan. Prince Abdullah hosted a luncheon in honor of the Pakistani prime minister.
Jamali separately met Prince Khaled ibn Sultan, assistant minister of defense and aviation, Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf, minister of finance and economy and Ali Al-Naimi, minister of petroleum and mineral resources.
Jamali also addressed Pakistani community members in Riyadh and informed them about his government’s policies.
He said his government was determined to address the needs of Pakistanis both within and outside Pakistan.
