Mosharraf Zaidi says Pakistan-Saudi ties are long-standing, constructed on mutual assist and cooperation
Pakistan on Thursday reaffirmed the nation’s dedication to assist Saudi Arabia every time required, whereas stressing that Islamabad can be working to stop additional escalation within the Center East.
Talking in an interview with Bloomberg TV, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi highlighted the long-standing relationship between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, noting it has all the time been primarily based on mutual assist and cooperation.
“One factor to essentially be very clear about proper on the prime, the query is not whether or not Pakistan would possibly come to Saudi Arabia’s support. I believe each nations, even earlier than the Strategic Mutual Defence Settlement, have all the time operated on a precept of being there for the opposite earlier than they want the opposite. There is not any query that we’d, we’ll, it doesn’t matter what and irrespective of when,” he stated.
Tensions within the Center East escalated sharply after US and Israeli air strikes final week assassinated Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of other senior officers, triggering a wave of retaliation from Tehran and widening the battle throughout the area. In response to the strikes, Iran launched retaliatory assaults on US navy bases in a number of Gulf nations, considerably increasing the scope of the confrontation.
Pakistan’s management has since ramped up its diplomatic efforts to play its half in managing the tensions, notably between Iran and the Gulf states.
Spoke to @BloombergTV this morning about Pakistan’s response to the financial & provide chain challenges brought on by the invasion of Iran.
I defined that the Prime Minister, Cupboard and our Area Marshal have acted early & decisively, guaranteeing iA continued sturdy provide & shares. pic.twitter.com/y6bWHJ39WT
— Mosharraf Zaidi 🇵🇰 (@mosharrafzaidi) March 11, 2026
Zaidi stated Pakistan was targeted on stopping a broader regional battle that would additional destabilise the Center East and have an effect on Pakistan’s personal pursuits.
“The actual query is, what’s Pakistan doing to guarantee that issues do not come to a degree the place any of its closest companions are additional embroiled, additional sucked right into a battle that probably undermines stability and prosperity, not only for the area at giant, however particularly for the Pakistani folks,” he added.
He stated Pakistan had been actively partaking regional and world companions in latest days. Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Area Marshal Asim Munir visited Saudi Arabia not too long ago, whereas Islamabad has additionally remained in touch with Iranian leaders and maintained dialogue with the USA.
“I believe over the previous six or seven days, there’s been a complete sequence of conversations. And I’ve to say, one of many issues that I believe Pakistanis actually admire is the best way by which Saudi Arabia and the opposite Gulf states have really resisted being drawn in,” he stated.
Zaidi famous that some voices in the USA had urged Gulf states to develop into extra actively concerned within the battle, however regional governments had up to now prevented deeper involvement.
“We have seen all types of appeals from some folks in the USA and different locations wanting the Saudis and the opposite nations within the GCC to get extra actively concerned. However they’ve resisted. And I believe that, partly, that is a part of what Pakistan desires to see is bigger,” he stated.
