Saudi Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pakistan-saudi-foreign-minister-faisal-bin-farhan-al-saud-to-visit-today-270275">Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud</a> arrived here on Thursday on a maiden visit to Pakistan.

The newly-appointed minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the airport. Both sides, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) office here, discussed bilateral relations, regional situation and matters of mutual interest, Dawn reported.

The Saudi foreign minister is also expected to meet Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/calling-imran-khans-bluff-india-needs-to-realign-its-pakistan-policy-190867">Imran Khan </a>and other leaders during his one-day trip.

This is the first visit by the current Saudi foreign minister since he assumed office in October.

Earlier, a diplomatic source told Dawn that the purpose of the trip is to thank Prime Minister Imran Khan for not attending Kuala Lumpur Summit.

The source added that the visit was scheduled only a couple of days ago.

"The purpose of the visit is to thank Prime Minister Khan for his decision of not attending Kuala Lumpur summit, and express solidarity with Islamabad after Turkish President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/80000-syrian-migrants-marching-to-turkey-says-recep-erdogan-269633">Recep Tayyip Erdogan</a>'s allegations that Saudi pressure forced Pakistan to skip the event," he said on conditions of anonymity.

"The Saudis also want to dispel the impression, which was reinforced by Erdogan's allegations, that their attitude towards Islamabad is patronising," he added.

Earlier this month, Khan had decided not to attend the Islamic summit, which was held in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by leaders of Muslim countries, including Iran, Qatar, and Turkey as well as religious scholars.

The decision was reportedly taken after Saudi Arabia expressed its displeasure over Pakistan's decision to participate. Riyadh sees the summit as an attempt to present an alternative to the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The decision came as a surprise because the Pakistan prime minister was the one with whom his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad was about to address the summit.

However, both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had rejected claims that Khan's decision was taken due to pressure from Riyadh.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud arrived here on Thursday on a maiden visit to Pakistan. The newly-appointed minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the airport.

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud arrived here on Thursday on a maiden visit to Pakistan. The newly-appointed minister was received by his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi at the airport. Both sides, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) office here, discussed bilateral relations, regional situation and matters of mutual interest, Dawn reported. The Saudi foreign minister is also expected to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and other leaders during his one-day trip. This is the first visit by the current Saudi foreign minister since he assumed office in October. Earlier, a diplomatic source told Dawn that the purpose of the trip is to thank Prime Minister Imran Khan for not attending Kuala Lumpur Summit. The source added that the visit was scheduled only a couple of days ago. "The purpose of the visit is to thank Prime Minister Khan for his decision of not attending Kuala Lumpur summit, and express solidarity with Islamabad after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's allegations that Saudi pressure forced Pakistan to skip the event," he said on conditions of anonymity. "The Saudis also want to dispel the impression, which was reinforced by Erdogan's allegations, that their attitude towards Islamabad is patronising," he added. Earlier this month, Khan had decided not to attend the Islamic summit, which was held in Kuala Lumpur and was attended by leaders of Muslim countries, including Iran, Qatar, and Turkey as well as religious scholars. The decision was reportedly taken after Saudi Arabia expressed its displeasure over Pakistan's decision to participate. Riyadh sees the summit as an attempt to present an alternative to the Jeddah-based Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The decision came as a surprise because the Pakistan prime minister was the one with whom his Malaysian counterpart Mahathir Mohamad was about to address the summit. However, both Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had rejected claims that Khan's decision was taken due to pressure from Riyadh.

Saudi foreign minister arrives in Pakistan to thank Imran for pulling out of Malaysia summit

Saudi Arabia's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Prince <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/young-saudi-prince-with-western-experience-named-foreign-minister-257821">Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud</a> will pay a visit to Pakistan on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday. 
 
Prince Faisal's maiden visit to the country has come days after Prime Minister Imran Khan <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/saudi-pressured-pakistan-to-withdraw-from-malaysia-summit-recep-tayyip-erdogan-269463">pulled out</a> of a key summit of Muslim nations held in Malaysia last week.

Also Watch:&nbsp;Pakistan decides&nbsp;to mark it's absence at the Kuala Lumpur Summit

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During the visit, the Saudi Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-finance-minister-qureshi-boycotts-v-k-singhs-speech-at-istanbul-conference-267361">Shah Mahmood Qureshi</a> and call on Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/imran-khan-cuts-short-geneva-visit-calls-emergency-meeting-to-discuss-musharraf-verdict-268976">Imran Khan</a>, the Foreign Office said in a statement, as cited by Dawn. 
 
"This would be his maiden visit to Pakistan, during which the exchange of views would cover bilateral matters and regional issues of mutual interest," the statement read. 
 
"Frequent high-level visits are a key feature of the relationship and serve to further deepen and broaden mutual collaboration." 
 
Pakistan had decided to stay away from the Kuala Lumpur summit of some 20 Muslim countries reportedly due to pressure exerted by Riyadh, given that the summit could lead to the setting up of an organisation parallel to the existing Saudi-dominated <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/malaysia-defends-muslim-summit-shunned-by-saudi-slammed-by-oic-269055">Organisation of Islamic Cooperation</a>.

Saudi Arabia's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud will pay a visit to Pakistan on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday.

Saudi Arabia's newly-appointed Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud will pay a visit to Pakistan on Thursday, Pakistan's Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday. Prince Faisal's maiden visit to the country has come days after Prime Minister Imran Khan pulled out of a key summit of Muslim nations held in Malaysia last week. Also Watch: Pakistan decides to mark it's absence at the Kuala Lumpur Summit × During the visit, the Saudi Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi and call on Prime Minister Imran Khan, the Foreign Office said in a statement, as cited by Dawn. "This would be his maiden visit to Pakistan, during which the exchange of views would cover bilateral matters and regional issues of mutual interest," the statement read. "Frequent high-level visits are a key feature of the relationship and serve to further deepen and broaden mutual collaboration." Pakistan had decided to stay away from the Kuala Lumpur summit of some 20 Muslim countries reportedly due to pressure exerted by Riyadh, given that the summit could lead to the setting up of an organisation parallel to the existing Saudi-dominated Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

Pakistan: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud to visit today

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Saudi foreign minister arrives in Pakistan to thank Imran for pulling out of Malaysia summit

Pakistan: Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud to visit today