Pakistan PM to visit Saudi Arabia, witness military exercise

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will pay an official visit to Saudi Arabia on March 9-10 for talks on security cooperation and witness military exercises, officials said Monday.

The Foreign Ministry said leaders from other countries have also been invited to witness the ongoing military exercise "North Thunder" and its closing ceremony.

Troops from 21 countries, including Pakistan, are participating in the exercise in the northern region of Saudi Arabia.

"The main goal of the exercise is to improve training in responding to the threat posed by terrorist groups," a Foreign Ministry statement said.

Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had invited the prime minister to visit the kingdom.

The Foreign Ministry said Pakistan will always stand shoulder to shoulder with Saudi Arabia against any threat to its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"Pakistan has consistently supported all regional and international efforts to combat militancy, extremism and terrorism and, to this end, has extended its full support and cooperation to the international community," it said.