The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have agreed to enhance and boost the current bilateral relations between them in various fields, it was reported here. This came during talks held at the headquarters of the Pakistani ministry of foreign affairs in Islamabad today between the two countries' delegations, led by Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Prime Minister's Advisor for Foreign and National Security Affairs Sartaj Aziz. The Pakistani News Agency, which carried the news, said the two sides agreed to enhance joint cooperation to achieve economic stability and increase investments in the private sector. In a joint press conference with Prince Saud Al-Faisal, Aziz said that Pakistan is linked with Saudi Arabia through firm deep-rooted ties, noting that Pakistan is keen to boost these relations in all fields. He added that the visit of Prince Saud Al-Faisal is of great interest to Pakistan as it is the first by a Saudi foreign minister since the formation of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's administration. Aziz stated that the two countries agreed to enhance and expand bilateral cooperation in all fields, including investment, trade and energy. He said Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif briefed the Saudi foreign minister on the plans of his government aiming at enhancing economic growth in Pakistan. He drew the attention that the two countries share identical views on most of the regional and international issues and that they stand side by side in support of regional security and stability. In response to a question, the Pakistani senior official denied reports that the case of the former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was discussed with Prince Saud Al-Faisal, noting that Musharraf's case is an internal matter in which Saudi Arabia, in its capacity as Pakistan's close and authentic friend country, never interferes. For his part, Prince Saud Al-Faisal said the Kingdom will continue to provide support and possible assistance to Pakistan to achieve its economic stability, noting that the plots of those who conspire to tamper relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan must be foiled. He went on to say that Saudi Arabia is lending white hands of support for Pakistan in the field of energy and others. He underscored the importance of exerting joint efforts to root out the danger of terror. He pointed that the international forces are scheduled to withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of this year and that a joint effort must by exerted to block terrorists from re-orchestrating their forces and re-fill the gap that might arise in the aftermath of the withdrawal. As of Syria, Prince Saud Al-Faisal, called for all parties to sit at the negotiation table to find a peaceful solution to the crisis, noting that Bashar Assad's regime should not be given absolute power and that the crisis should be ended through consultation and cooperation of all concerned parties.
