*ISLAMABAD: Ambassador of Saudi Arabia in Islamabad Nawaf Saeed Al-Malikihas said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s decision to choose Saudi Arabiaas the destination of his first official visit abroad confirmed that theIslamic Republic of Pakistan considered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as thefirst country in the list of its strategic allies.*

“This visit carries many messages, the most important of which is thatSaudi Arabia and Pakistan ties are like one soul and two bodies whichcannot be separated,” he said in an interview to Al Arabiya.

Al-Maliki said the first foreign visit of Prime Minister Imran Khanincluded cooperation in the fields of economy and culture as well asmilitary, and it would be followed by subsequent visits.

He said Khan’s visit to Saudi Arabia had many dimensions as it would helpin further strengthening and deepening the bilateral, brotherly, strategicand economic relations, underscoring that Saudi Arabia had always stoodwith Pakistan in difficult times and crises.

He said Khan’s choice of Saudi Arabia for his first official visitconfirmed the sincere expression of the new government of Pakistan thatSaudi Arabia was its important strategic ally. “It is expected that thevisit has given firm impression to public opinion in the world thatPakistan considers Saudi Arabia as its preferred country and first ally,”he added.

He stressed that Pakistani Muslim brothers considered the Kingdom of SaudiArabia as centre of their direction due to existence of Makkah and Madinah.He said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was housing more than 2.5 millionPakistani expatriates who worked in different fields and contributed infurther strengthening and deepening of bilateral relations.