ISLAMABAD, April 16: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday reiterated their commitment to continue their cooperation in the fight against terrorism and extremism and to protect Islam’s identity and values.

According to a joint statement issued following the visit of Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Prince Sultan Bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud to Pakistan, both the countries also agreed on the need to foster better understanding and harmony among diverse faith through inter-faith and dialogue.

The Crown Prince paid a two-day visit to Pakistan on the invitation extended by Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. It was his first visit to Pakistan as Crown Prince.

Earlier, he had visited in the capacity of Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia in 1981 and 1999.

President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz conveyed the gratitude of the government and the people of Pakistan for the relief assistance provided by the Kingdom to earthquake victims in Pakistan. It included a continuous supply of relief goods and a financial pledge of $573 million for the reconstruction and rehabilitation operation.

The Pakistani leadership held comprehensive and wide-ranging discussions with the Crown Prince. A banquet and an official lunch were hosted by President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in his honour respectively.

At the official talks, views were exchanged between the two sides on a broad spectrum of bilateral as well as regional and international issues. They agreed to further intensify their bilateral relations, specifically in economic, commercial, investment and defence areas.

On the Middle East peace process, the two sides emphasized the need for the creation of an independent Palestinian state in accordance with the wishes of the Palestinian people.

They expressed their concern and anguish over the deteriorating security situation in Iraq and the sufferings of the Iraqi people.

Crown prince Sultan left Islamabad on Sunday ending the two-day visit.—APP