As tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors Pakistan and India reach alarming levels, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel Al-Jubeir, arrived in Islamabad on a critical diplomatic mission. His visit comes shortly after an unannounced stop in New Delhi, signaling Riyadh’s active role in defusing the crisis.
Al-Jubeir was warmly welcomed at the airport by the Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan and senior officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He later met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Foreign Ministry, where discussions centered on the worsening security situation in South Asia.
In a key meeting at the Prime Minister’s House, Al-Jubeir was received by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The Saudi minister conveyed Riyadh’s deep concern over the unfolding crisis, calling for restraint and a peaceful resolution of Pakistan-India disputes in line with international law and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The diplomatic push comes as India faces accusations of launching missile strikes and deploying 77 Israeli-made Harop drones targeting both civilian and military sites in Pakistan — attacks that the Pakistan Army says it successfully intercepted and destroyed.
Prime Minister Sharif strongly condemned what he described as India’s “unprovoked and unjustified acts of aggression,” which he said had killed numerous civilians, including women and children, and caused widespread damage to civilian infrastructure. “These reckless actions violate Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and pose a grave threat to regional peace and stability,” Sharif emphasized, reaffirming Pakistan’s readiness to defend itself under Article 51 of the UN Charter.
During the meeting, Al-Jubeir expressed condolences over civilian losses and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to supporting peace efforts in the region. Sharif, in turn, welcomed Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic initiative and praised the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Saudi relations, extending warm regards to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Diplomatic sources highlight that Saudi Arabia and the United States have emerged as the primary intermediaries working to de-escalate the situation. On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio held consultations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and later spoke directly with Prime Minister Sharif.
While Pakistan squarely blames India for sparking the current crisis, Islamabad has conveyed to Saudi and U.S. interlocutors that it does not seek further escalation. Instead, Pakistan has urged the international community to condemn India’s missile strikes on civilian targets and to press New Delhi to reverse its suspension of the bilateral treaty.
Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic efforts, underscored by Al-Jubeir’s back-to-back visits to India and Pakistan, reflect Riyadh’s desire to prevent the crisis from spiraling further. Both Washington and Riyadh are seen as key players in shaping a path toward de-escalation and preserving fragile regional stability.
