Saudi Interior Minister Abdulaziz bin Saud Al Saud expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s constructive role in efforts to ease regional tensions during a meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday. The discussion took place amid renewed US strikes on Tehran, which threatened the fragile ceasefire between the two countries.
Pakistan has been actively mediating since hostilities escalated following US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. These attacks were met with retaliatory strikes by Tehran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route. Islamabad successfully brokered a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran on April 8 and hosted direct talks between the parties on April 11 and 12. Although these talks did not yield a permanent agreement, Pakistan has continued to engage in backchannel diplomacy to bridge differences between Washington and Tehran.
During the meeting, the two ministers exchanged Eidul Adha greetings and extended well wishes. The Saudi interior minister also congratulated Naqvi on completing Hajj. The talks included comprehensive discussions on bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, focusing on internal security cooperation and the evolving regional situation.
It was agreed that 200 personnel from Pakistan’s Federal Constabulary’s Special Diplomatic Protection Unit would undergo training in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a high-level delegation from the Saudi Ministry of Interior is expected to visit Pakistan soon to further enhance cooperation between the two countries. Naqvi commended the Saudi government for its excellent management and arrangements during Hajj.
Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched an attack on a US airbase following US military strikes targeting an Iranian drone operation near the Strait of Hormuz. This escalation underscored the fragility of the ceasefire and diminished prospects for a lasting peace agreement, while also causing a surge in global oil prices.
The conflict, which began on February 28 with US and Israeli strikes, has resulted in thousands of casualties and significantly impacted global energy markets. Former US President Trump has repeatedly claimed that the war’s end is near but stated at a recent cabinet meeting that he remains unsatisfied with the current deal with Iran and that the US is not considering easing sanctions at this time.
