Discussions are expected to cover ceasefire negotiations, regional stability, and the reopening of shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global energy supplies.
In a cluster of villages in Pakistan’s largely rural Chakwal district, more than 100 Shi’ite Muslims have returned from the United Arab Emirates without jobs, luggage or access to the savings they spent years building abroad.
Pakistan has reportedly deployed 8,000 troops, fighter jets, drones and advanced air defence systems to Saudi Arabia under a confidential mutual defence pact, marking one of the largest military deployments between the two allies in recent years.
Both Iraq and Pakistan have cut deals with Iran to ship oil and liquefied natural gas from the Gulf, according to five sources with knowledge of the matter, in a demonstration of Tehran's ability to control energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz.
Saudi Arabia launched numerous, unpublicized strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks carried out in the kingdom during the Middle East war, two Western officials briefed on the matter and two Iranian officials said.
