ISLAMABAD – Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday made it clear that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his visit to Saudi Arabia will not hold any bilateral meetings on the sidelines of US-Arab-Islamic Summit, tribune.com reported.
On the media reports, FO spokesperson said: “The very full agenda of the half day summit, which is expected to have the participation of more than 35 leaders of the Islamic world as well as Secretary Generals of the OIC, Arab League and GCC, does not permit sideline bilateral meetings.”
Both the leaders would face off on May 21 at US-Arab Islamic Summit where two dozen heads of governments and states would gather to focus on ways to enhance the cooperation between the American and the Muslim countries in fight against extremism.
Foreign Office officials earlier had confirmed to a leading daily that efforts were underway to arrange a maiden bilateral meeting between Trump and Nawaz at the sidelines of the summit.
A senior Pakistani official who requested anonymity said the prime minister was already preparing a ‘brief’ for a possible interaction with the US president.
The official said the ‘brief’ includes the country’s position on Afghanistan’s current situation and the way forward and current tensions with India.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday arrived in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for his first overseas visit since assuming the office, while Nawaz Sharif will leave for the summit on Sunday.
