Saudi Defence Minister welcomed at arrival in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: The Deputy Crown Prince and Minister for Defence of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammad bin Salman Al-Saud, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday on a day-long official visit.

Minister of Defence Khwaja Muhammad Asif, Prime Minister's Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, and other officials received the guest on his arrival at Nur Khan Base here in the federal capital.

The Deputy Crown Prince is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Pakistan's top military leadership during his visit.

The Saudi defence minister will also hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart over the prevailing situation in the Middle East and the Saudi-led 34-nation military coalition to combat terrorism.

The Saudi defence minister's visit follows a two-day visit by the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir to Pakistan last week.

Sources say the Saudi minister will also discuss Pakistan's inclusion and its role in a Saudi-led 34-country coalition against terrorism.

The key visit comes amid escalation in tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, after Iranian protestors ransacked the Saudi Embassy in Tehran and Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Iran.

Diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran – Pakistan's neighbour to the west – deteriorated as Iranian protestors reacted with fury to Riyadh's execution of prominent cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

Pakistan has expressed concern over ongoing tension between Saudi Arabia and Iran, with the Foreign Office condemning the attack on the Saudi embassy in Tehran.