PM offers Pakistan’s support to Oman in dealing with terrorism

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist attack on Imam Bargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Wadi Kabir district of Muscat on July 16 and offered Pakistan’s support to Oman in the elimination of terrorism in all of its forms.

The prime minister, talking to Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman Fahad Sulaiman Khalaf Al Kharusi, who paid a courtesy call on him, appreciated Oman’s swift response and cooperation with the Pakistan mission in the repatriation of the bodies and treatment of the injured.

The attack on Imam Bargah resulted in the deaths of six people, including four Pakistani nationals, and over 30 injured, nearly all of whom were Pakistanis.

The prime minister said Pakistan has itself been a victim of terrorism for the past several decades.

During the course of the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his good wishes for Sultan Haitham bin Tariq while fondly recalling his telephonic conversations with the Sultan on Eidul Adha as well as Eidul Fitr earlier in the year.

The prime minister reiterated his invitation to the Sultan of Oman to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

On the bilateral front, the prime minister stressed that Pakistan and Oman enjoyed close, brotherly ties with a shared history, faith and culture.

He expressed Pakistan’s desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade, investment, energy, and defense.

In this regard, Prime Minister Shehbaz thanked the ambassador for encouraging a trade and investment delegation to undertake a visit to Pakistan next week, while assuring him that the relevant Pakistani authorities would extend full cooperation to the delegation while seeking mutually beneficial outcomes.

The ambassador thanked the prime minister for receiving him and conveyed the greetings of the Sultan of Oman. He reaffirmed his country’s desire to further enhance its trade and investment relations with Pakistan.