Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday arrived in Jeddah for a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia, ahead of his trip to New York for the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
He was received by Makkah Governor Khalid Al-Faisal at the Jeddah Royal Terminal.
The premier will discuss the "grave situation" in occupied Kashmir following the Indian government's decision to strip the region of its autonomy on August 5. The occupied territory has since been under a strict government-imposed lockdown and communications blackout.
Prime Minister Imran has been in "regular contact" with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the issue, the statement said. The prime minister has, as part of his efforts to draw the world's attention towards the situation in the Kashmir Valley, called the crown prince earlier this month to brief him over the situation in the region.
The prime minister will also bring up the matter in his speech at the UN General Assembly next week.
As a result of his phone calls to crown princes of UAE and Saudi Arabia, the foreign ministers of both countries visited Islamabad earlier this month and discussed the situation in occupied Kashmir in their meetings with the prime minister, army chief and foreign minister.
The leadership of both countries will also discuss ways to strengthen economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, during the premier's visit, the PMO statement said.He is expected to discuss with Saudi leadership "various dimensions of the grave situation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, arising from India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019", said a statement issued by Prime Minister House.
"The Prime Minister has been in regular contact on the Kashmir issue with His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman," the statement said.
It said since the last visit of the Crown Prince in February, "there is a growing momentum in Pakistan-Saudi Arabia relations in all areas of cooperation".
The premier was also expected to discuss with the Kingdom's rulers "ways of further strengthening the economic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia".
Traditionally marked by warmth and mutual trust, PM Imran's visit to the Kingdom was expected to further reinforce the close fraternal Pakistan-Saudi relations "and deepen bilateral cooperation in diverse fields".
