Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to further strengthen their cooperation on regional and international matters, and keep close collaboration at multilateral fora, including the OIC and the United Nations.

An understanding to this effect came during a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Islamabad today (Tuesday) on sidelines of the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and regional and global issues.

Both the Foreign Ministers reviewed OIC's importance as a vital platform for the Islamic Ummah and its role in the advancement of common causes of the Muslim World.

Speaking on the occasion, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan supports Saudi Arabia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and has always condemned drone and missile attacks by Houthis on Saudi soil.

In his remarks, Prince Faisal underscored that Saudi Arabia attaches importance to its fraternal and strategic relationship with Pakistan and conveyed Saudi Arabia's appreciation for the role played by Pakistan in the OIC.

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi says hate speech, discrimination and violence against Muslims is growing rapidly in many parts of the world including Pakistan's neighbourhood.

He was talking to High Representative of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations Miguel Ángel Moratinos on the sidelines of the 48th OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday.

He said deliberate insult of holy personalities and holy places, discriminatory laws and policies, ban on hijab, attacks on mosques, deportation announcements by far-right parties are causing concern due to violent behaviour.

They also discussed matters pertaining to mutual interest, including strengthening interfaith dialogue, tackling Islamophobia and related intolerance trends.

The High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations congratulated the Foreign Minister on the successful organization of the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a meeting with his counterpart from Bahrain Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, on the sidelines of the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The two Foreign Ministers discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments.

The two Foreign Ministers also reviewed major issues confronting the Islamic countries and the world at large. They explored avenues for greater role of the OIC in that regard.  

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi on the sidelines of 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Islamabad on Tuesday.   

Welcoming the honourable guest, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said his visit will further strengthen bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

The two Foreign Ministers reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral cooperation including in the areas of trade, economy, development, security and defense.

They underscored the need for reactivating the existing institutional mechanisms between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his Gambian counterpart Dr Mamadou Tangara, on the sidelines of the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers held in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The two Foreign Ministers exchanged views on regional and bilateral issues of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction on the current status of their bilateral relationship.  

They expressed readiness to conclude MoU for ‘Bilateral Political Consultations’, Visa Abolition Agreement and advance technical cooperation in the sphere of defense.