NEW YORK: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday signed an agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/special passports, aimed at facilitating high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between the two countries.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on X that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The two leaders reaffirmed the deeply rooted and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia and welcomed the signing of the agreement on mutual exemption from visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official/special passports.
Ishaq Dar expressed Pakistan’s steadfast solidarity with Saudi Arabia and condemned the recent attacks targeting the Kingdom.
The two foreign ministers discussed matters pertaining to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under the Agreement and advancing regional peace, stability, and security.
The two sides also underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges and continued close coordination on bilateral and regional matters of mutual interest.
In a post on X, Ishaq Dar said: “I signed today with my brother, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, the ‘Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on the abolition of visa requirements for holders of Diplomatic and Official/Special Passports.’”
“This important step will further facilitate high-level engagement and institutional exchanges, and contribute to advancing our enduring and brotherly strategic partnership across all areas of mutual interest,” Dar said.
Pakistan ready to go to any extent to defend Saudi Arabia: DG ISPR
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have maintained close and longstanding relations rooted in historical, religious and people-to-people ties, with cooperation extending across political, economic, defence and regional issues.
The relationship became stronger following the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on August 7, 2026.
Earlier, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan is prepared to “go to any extent” to defend Saudi Arabia.
“Pakistan fully stands with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both diplomatically and physically,” DG ISPR Lt. General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry told Arab News. “And I would like to underscore here the word physically … We will go to any extent.”
The DG ISPR said Pakistan remained committed to protecting the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
He said Pakistan’s commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security was unconditional and that the country’s political and military leadership remained in constant contact with the Saudi leadership.
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