Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan arrived in Pakistan on Saturday in a show of “economic support,” days after Islamabad announced plans to return billions of dollars in loans to the United Arab Emirates.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recalled his recent “warm and cordial” telephone conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince and expressed appreciation for the Kingdom’s continued economic and financial backing, which he said has played a key role in maintaining Pakistan’s economic stability.
The visit comes as Pakistan hosts talks between the United States and Iran aimed at ending the ongoing Middle East war, although the Saudi minister is not part of the negotiations.
Al-Jadaan’s trip is being seen as a sign of shifting alliances in the Gulf amid tensions between Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Pakistan, facing economic pressure, recently said it would repay more than $3 billion in loans provided by the UAE since 2018.
#By Al Jazeera