Pakistan, Aug. 28 -- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday praised Saudi Arabia for playing a "pivotal role" in promoting regional peace and stability, his office said, as Islamabad intensifies diplomatic efforts to broker a permanent peace between the United States (US) and Iran in the Middle East.

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have been closely involved in efforts to broker peace between the US and Iran. The war between the two countries since February has led to closure of global maritime trade routes, triggering higher oil prices and steeper inflation. Pakistan has thanked Saudi Arabia numerous times for backing its efforts to bring the US and Iran to the negotiating table.

Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saaed Al-Malki met Sharif at the...