Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif pledged full solidarity and support for Saudi Arabia during a visit to the kingdom on Thursday, as Islamabad increased diplomatic efforts in the Gulf to help calm the expanding regional conflict. Sharif traveled to Jeddah and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, according to a statement from the prime minister’s office. During the meeting, Sharif reaffirmed that Pakistan would always stand firmly with Saudi Arabia and work together with the kingdom to promote peace and stability in the region.

The trip took place a day after Sharif spoke with Iran’s president regarding the worsening situation in the Middle East. Iran has been launching repeated missile attacks on several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, as part of its conflict involving Israel and the United States. The escalation has pushed oil prices higher and disrupted global energy supply chains.

Pakistani officials say Islamabad has been stepping up diplomatic initiatives aimed at mediating the conflict and preventing further escalation. These efforts are complicated by a mutual defense agreement signed between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia last year. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Sharif’s visit should be viewed within the broader context of Pakistan’s attempts to encourage an early end to violence and hostilities in the region. He made the remarks during a weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday.

Rashid Ahmad Khan, an international relations expert based in Lahore, said it is very unlikely that Pakistan would launch a military strike against Iran in response to its attacks on Saudi Arabia. Pakistan has a large Shiite Muslim population that maintains religious and cultural ties with Iran, and protests erupted in several cities, including Karachi, following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khan noted that Pakistan could still assist Saudi Arabia by helping defend against drone attacks and providing technical military support within Saudi territory.

Sharif’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi said in an interview with Bloomberg TV that Pakistan would unquestionably support Saudi Arabia if needed. He emphasized that the key focus for Pakistan is ensuring the conflict does not escalate to the point where regional stability and prosperity are severely threatened. Also attending the meeting in Saudi Arabia were Pakistan’s top military official, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, according to the prime minister’s office.

The Saudi visit followed a phone conversation between Sharif and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday, indicating ongoing diplomatic contacts aimed at resolving the crisis. Pezeshkian said that any potential ceasefire would require assurances against future attacks, a message he had also communicated to the leaders of Russia and Pakistan.

During his call with Pezeshkian, Sharif expressed hope that Iran would experience peace, stability, and prosperity in the years ahead, according to Andrabi. Zaidi said Sharif has been regularly communicating with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto regarding efforts to promote peace. Indonesia has offered to mediate in the conflict, with Prabowo proposing a possible visit to Iran. Prabowo previously indicated that Sharif might accompany him on a trip to Tehran, according to Jimly Asshiddiqie, chairman of the advisory council of the Indonesian Muslim Intellectuals Association.