Pakistan pledges support for Saudi Arabia's security.

KARACHI -- Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on ThurAsday reiterated Pakistan's firm support for the safety and security of Saudi Arabia and said the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) could play a vital role in expanding political and economic ties betwAeen Islamabad and the Gulf states.

The foreign minister, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, held separate meetings with his Saudi counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and GCC Secretary General Dr Nayef Falah M. Al-Hajraf in Riyadh.

Mr Bhutto-Zardari and Prince Faisal jointly chaired the inaugural session of the Ministerial Committee of the Political and Security Pillar of the Saudi-Pakistan Supreme Coordination Committee, says a Foreign Office press release.

Both sides held wide-ranging discussions on a host of issues related to political and security domains.

Bilawal holds talks with Saudi counterpart, says GCC can help boost ties between Pakistan and Gulf nations

FM Bhutto-Zardari stressed the importance of continued coordination between the two countries on 'combating activities of terrorist groups that aim to undermine the security and stability of the regional countries'.

He highlighted the need to strengthen 'institutionalised linkaAges between the two countries to counter threats in the security domain, including cybersecurity, counterterrorism and its finaAnAcing, organised crimes, drug trafficking and money laundering'.

He expressed satisfaction on the existing military and defence ties between the two brotherly countries and underscored Pakistan's commitment to bolstering cooperation in this area.

Underscoring the longstanding fraternal and strategic ties between the two countries, the foreign minister expressed his resolve to strengthen cooperation across entire spectrum of bilateral relations to realise the aspirations of the leaderships of the two countries, achieve common objectives and push their relationship to reach greater horizons.

The two sides shared assessment of the changing regional and global...