Islamabad,16 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia and safeguarding the Kingdom’s sovereignty, security and territorial integrity. During a meeting with newly appointed Saudi Ambassador Dr. Rajeh Tami Albugamy in Islamabad on Friday, the prime minister appreciated the remarkable progress in Pakistan-Saudi relations in recent years and stressed the need to enhance institutional cooperation across various sectors. He strongly condemned the recent escalation in Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, which resulted in the loss of precious lives and injuries to several innocent people, including Pakistani nationals. The prime minister reiterated that Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia and emphasized that the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Alliance represented historic milestones in the longstanding fraternal ties between the two countries, reflecting their shared commitment to regional peace and security. Welcoming the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif congratulated him on assuming his new responsibilities and wished him success in his diplomatic assignment. He also expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for its longstanding economic and financial support to Pakistan and assured the ambassador of Pakistan’s full cooperation in further deepening the brotherly relations between the two countries.