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RIYADH: Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Al-Sheikh, speaker of the Saudi Shoura Council, arrived in Islamabad at the start of an official visit to Pakistan following the signing of a landmark defense pact last month, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

He is heading a delegation from the council in response to an invitation extended by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan.

Al-Sheikh was met at Islamabad International Airport by Sadiq. Also present to receive him were the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Nawaf bin Saeed Al-Maliki, along with several senior officials from the Pakistani National Assembly.

During the visit, Al-Sheikh will hold an official session of talks with Sadiq and meet with several senior Pakistani officials to review relations and discuss ways to strengthen ties.

The visit was arranged in response to an invitation from Sadiq following the signing of the defense pact between the two countries in September during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s state visit to º£½ÇÖ±²¥.

The pact states that any aggression against either country would be treated as an attack on both, and it comes at a time of heightened tension in the region.

The relationship between the countries, which was established in 1947, has evolved into a comprehensive partnership spanning diplomatic, economic, and military spheres.

The foundation of this bond was laid in September 1947, when º£½ÇÖ±²¥ became one of the first countries to recognize Pakistan following its independence. This recognition was quickly followed by the signing of a Treaty of Friendship in 1951, which formally cemented bilateral ties.

The delegation accompanying Al-Sheikh includes council members Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Buraik, Ibtisam bint Abdullah Al-Jubeir, Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al-Wardi, as well as other council officials.