Zardari, Punjab chief minister greet Saudi Arabia on 96th National Day

President Asif Ali Zardari has congratulated Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the kingdom’s 96th National Day, saying two recent defence agreements between Islamabad and Riyadh have deepened the strategic partnership.

The messages came as Saudi Arabia prepared to mark its National Day on September 23, the anniversary of the kingdom's unification in 1932.

In letters to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the crown prince, who is also prime minister, Zardari said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia share deep-rooted ties of faith, shared history, friendship, mutual trust and solidarity, Daily Times reported.

He said the two countries greatly value close relations marked by strong cooperation and mutual support in bilateral, regional and international forums.

Zardari called the Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement and the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement important milestones in the longstanding partnership, saying they contributed to peace, stability and security in the region.

He expressed confidence that fraternal relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia would continue to deepen and expand across diverse areas of mutual interest.

In his separate message to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Zardari said he looked forward to welcoming him to Pakistan at an early and convenient date and to working closely with him to broaden bilateral cooperation.

The Nation reported that the chief minister of Punjab also felicitated the Saudi leadership and people on the National Day. The text of the chief minister’s message was not included in the available report.

Minute Mirror noted that Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia rest on religious devotion, defence cooperation, economic interests and historic links, and described Saudi Arabia as an important spiritual centre of the Muslim world and Pakistan as the only nuclear-armed country in the Muslim world.