Shehbaz urges MBS to back de-escalation in Middle East crisis

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a telephone conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and called for an immediate halt to hostilities and a return to normal conditions amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. He also briefed the Saudi leadership on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach aimed at reducing tensions and encouraging dialogue among the parties involved.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz strongly condemned the recent attacks on Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full solidarity with the Kingdom. He praised Riyadh for showing restraint during the crisis and said Pakistan would continue to stand by Saudi Arabia in difficult times.

The premier stressed that the Muslim world needed unity and cohesion at a moment of heightened regional instability. The Saudi Crown Prince, according to the official statement, appreciated Pakistan’s peace efforts, and both sides agreed to stay in close contact at all levels.

Separately, Shehbaz said on X that he had also conveyed Eid greetings to King Salman and the Saudi people while reiterating Pakistan’s support for de-escalation. The call came a day after he publicly offered Islamabad as a venue for possible talks between the United States and Iran, as Pakistan continues to position itself as a diplomatic intermediary.