Nawaz was sworn in for an unprecedented third term as prime minister on 7 June 2013. He faced numerous challenges, including bringing an end to
US drone strikes and
Taliban attacks while also tackling a crippled
economy. Speculation was rife that the new government would need a bailout from the
International Monetary Fund to restore economic stability.
Social policy Nawaz's third term moved from social conservatism to
social centrism. In 2016, he called the future of Pakistan as one underpinned as an "educated, progressive, forward looking and an enterprising nation". In January 2016 he backed the
Punjab government policy of banning
Tablighi Jamaat from preaching in educational institutions and in February he enacted a law to provide a helpline for women to report domestic abuse, despite the criticism of conservative religious parties. Nawaz's government hanged
Mumtaz Qadri on 29 February 2016. Qadri had fatally shot
Salman Taseer over his opposition to
blasphemy laws. According to
BBC News, the move to hang Qadri was an indication of the government's growing confidence in taming the street power of religious groups. To the disliking of religious conservatives, Nawaz promised that the perpetrators of
honour killings would be 'punished very severely'. In March 2016,
The Washington Post reported that Nawaz was defying Pakistan's powerful clergy by unblocking access to YouTube, pushing to end child marriage, enacting a landmark domestic violence bill, and overseeing the execution of Qadri. Around 2,000 far-right
Islamic fundamentist protesters led by
Sunni Tehreek staged a sit-in at
D-Chowk in front of the parliament in Islamabad on 27 March 2016, causing a partial shutdown of the capital. The protestors demanded the implementation of
sharia in the country and declaring Qadri a martyr. The protestors burned cars and a public transit station and injured journalists and bystanders. In response, Nawaz addressed the nation, stating that those "fanning the fire of hatred" would be dealt with under the law. The government called in the army to enforce order. By 29 March the crowd had shrunk to 700 protestors, and the protest ended on 30 March after the government promised not to amend the blasphemy laws. Nawaz's government declared that the Hindu festivals
Diwali and
Holi, and the Christian festival of Easter, were officially public holidays.
Time Magazine called this a "significant step for the country's beleaguered religious minorities." On 6 December 2016, Nawaz approved the renaming of
Quaid-i-Azam University's (QAU) physics centre to the Professor Abdus Salam Center for Physics after Pakistani physicist and Nobel laureate
Abdus Salam. Nawaz also established the
Professor Abdus Salam Fellowship to fully fund five Pakistani doctoral students in physics. In response, the
Council of Islamic Ideology criticised Nawaz's move, Salam being an
Ahmadi, claiming that "changing the department's name would not set the right precedent." Nawaz stressed the need for operation Zarb-e-Qalam to fight societal extremism and intolerance through the power of "writers, poets and intellectuals". Addressing the Pakistan Academy of Literature, Nawaz said that "in a society where flowers of poetry and literature bloom, the diseases of extremism, intolerance, disunity and sectarianism are not born". Nawaz also announced a million endowment fund for the promotion of art and literary activities in Pakistan. On 9 January 2017, the government denied visas for international preachers for the Tablighi Jamaat conference in Lahore.
Jamia Binoria criticised the government's decisions. Nawaz, in a March 2017 address at
Jamia Naeemia, urged Islamic scholars to spread the true teachings of Islam and take a firm stand against those who are causing disunity among Muslims. Nawaz called for a "progressive and prosperous Muslim world", and asked the "religious scholars to [...] take the war against these terrorists to its logical end." On 7 April 2016,
The Express Tribune claimed that Nawaz's multibillion-rupee health insurance plan seemed to be failing because of poor planning, claiming that the basic health infrastructure doesn't allow for such a plan.
Economy The country's economy faced many challenges including energy shortages,
hyperinflation, mild economic growth, high debt and a large budget deficit. Shortly after taking power in 2013, Nawaz received a US$6.6 billion
loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to avoid a balance-of-payments crisis. Lower oil prices, higher remittances and increased
consumer spending pushed growth toward a seven-year high of 4.3 percent in 2014–15.
Asian Development Bank attributed gradual growth in economy to the continued low prices for oil and other commodities, the expected pick-up in growth in the advanced economies, and some alleviation of power shortages. However, the
sovereign debt of Pakistan increased dramatically, with total debts and liabilities swelled to trillion (or US$73 billion) by August 2016. Nawaz's administration issued a five-year $500-million Eurobond in 2015 at 8.25% interest and in September 2016, it also raised $1 billion by floating Sukuk (Islamic bonds) at 5.5%. The Sharif administration negotiated free trade agreements (FTAs) to expand
trade liberalisation, notably with
Turkey,
South Korea, Iran, and Thailand, and an expansion of the FTA with Malaysia. and
Saira Afzal Tarar. According to the
Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), the quality of governance had 'marginally improved' during Nawaz's first year in power within an overall score of 44%. It scored highest in disaster-preparedness, merit-based recruitment, and foreign policy management, while it received the lowest scores on poverty alleviation and transparency. On 4 July 2013, the IMF and Pakistan reached a provisional agreement on a US$5.3 billion bailout package to bolster Pakistan's flagging economy and its perilously low foreign exchange reserves, which was contrary to an election promise not to take any more loans. On 4 September, IMF approved another $6.7 billion loan package over a three-year period. IMF demanded Pakistan conduct economic reforms, including privatising 31 state-owned companies. Business confidence in Pakistan reached a three-year high in May 2014 backed by increasing foreign reserves which crossed US$15 billion by mid-2014. In May 2014, IMF stated that inflation had dropped to 13% (compared to 25% in 2008), foreign reserves were in a better position and that the current account deficit had come down to 3% of GDP. ''
Standard & Poor's and Moody's Corporation'' changed Pakistan's long-term rating to 'stable outlook'. The
World Bank stated on 9 April 2014 that Pakistan's economy was at a turning point, with projected GDP growth approaching 4%, driven by manufacturing and service sectors, better energy availability, and early revival of investor confidence. In FY2015, industrial growth slowed due to power shortages, On 3 May,
The Economist gave Sharif's administration partial credit for the economy's new stability, having upheld its agreements with the IMF. Standard & Poor revised Pakistan's credit rating from 'stable' to 'positive', noting the government's efforts towards fiscal consolidation, improvement in external financing conditions, and stronger capital inflows. during the
World Economic Forum in Switzerland. During a trip to Pakistan on 10 February 2016, World Bank Group's president
Jim Yong Kim applauded the economic policies of Nawaz's government. He claimed that Pakistan's economic outlook had become more stable. On 19 March, Nawaz approved tax incentives in an attempt to attract new automotive manufacturing plants to the country. In November 2016, the government announced that
Renault was expected to start assembling cars in Pakistan by 2018. On 8 April 2016, following lobbying by international development groups, the government changed its methodology for measuring poverty. The poverty line was moved from to per adult per month, which increased the poverty ratio from 9.3% to 29.5%. A PILDAT survey claimed that the quality of governance had improved, though it was still weak for transparency.
Fred Hochberg, head of the
Export–Import Bank of the United States visited Pakistan on 14 April and said that he "sees a lot of opportunities to expand its exposure to Pakistan." On 9 May, the
World Bank's Pakistan Development Report stated that the current account was in a healthy position, but that Pakistan's export competitiveness has diminished due to protectionist policies, poor infrastructure, and high transaction costs for trade. Consequently, Pakistan's exports-to-GDP ratio had been declining for the last two decades. On 15 December 2016, Pakistan became a signatory of the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD)
Convention on Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters, aimed at curbing tax evasion. In his 2016 book,
The Rise and Fall of Nations,
Ruchir Sharma stated that Pakistan's economy was at a 'take-off' stage and the future outlook to 2020 was 'very good'. On 24 October 2016, months after the Sharif government concluded a US$6.4 billion three-year programmes, IMF managing director
Christine Lagarde visited Pakistan, during which she maintained Pakistan was "out of the economic crisis". She added that continued efforts were needed to bring more people under taxation and to ensure that all paid their fair share. The 2017
Ease of doing business index recognised Pakistan as one of the ten countries making the biggest improvements to business regulations. Hundreds of Chinese trucks loaded with goods rolled into the dry port in
Gilgit-Baltistan on 1 November as the first shipment of the
China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. The government announced plans to restructure PIA, which sought to become more competitive by leasing newer and more efficient aircraft. PIA was split into two companies: a holding group would retain some billion in debt and excess personnel, and a "new" PIA would hold the lucrative landing rights and new aircraft. The government planned to sell a 26% stake in the new PIA to a strategic partner. In February 2016, Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC) was to be converted into a public limited company as Pakistan International Airlines Company Limited (PIACL) to make way for privatisation, however, this trigged an eight-day union strike. On 23 December 2016, a Chinese consortium won the bid for a 40% stake in the
PSX with an offer of US$85.5 million.
Communications and development Upon assuming office, Nawaz launched the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) which constructed major projects to stimulate the economy. This included
Diamer-Bhasha Dam,
Dasu Dam,
Faisalabad-Khanewal M-4 Motorway,
Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metrobus Service and
Lahore–Karachi Motorway. Nawaz also approved feasibility studies for numerous other projects. During FY2014–15, Nawaz's government announced additional PSDP funding from to billion. The government allocated billion of PSDP funds for the
China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, including the Lahore-Karachi Motorway.
The Economist, writing in January 2017, criticised Nawaz's spending on infrastructure, explaining that it sat unused as "the economic boom it was meant to trigger has never arrived." Regarding the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor, the magazine wrote that "critics fear the country will struggle to pay back the debt, especially if foreign-exchange earnings from exports continue to dwindle" further adding that "It may not concern Mr. Sharif unduly if the next generation of roads is as deserted as the last." On 24 April 2014, mobile companies
Mobilink,
Telenor,
Ufone and
Zong won auctions for 3G and 4G mobile spectrum licenses, raising US$1.112 billion. Nawaz stated that billion will be collected in annual revenue from the licenses, while the technology would create millions of jobs in the service sector. Nawaz also launched the
Prime Minister's Youth Programme, providing a billion fund for interest-free loans, skills development and provision of laptop computers under the
Prime Minister's Laptop Scheme.
Imran Khan protests Imran Khan began mobilising workers on 29 October 2016 to lockdown
Islamabad, demanding Nawaz's resignation and a corruption inquiry. In response, the Sharif government placed a citywide ban on gatherings and arrested hundreds of opposition activists. The government also arrested scores of
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf workers and closed the motorway leading from
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On 1 November, Khan ceased protests after the
Supreme Court said it would form a judicial commission to probe allegations stemming from the "Panama Papers" leaks about the Sharif family's offshore wealth. In the first week of January, four Pakistani activists known on social media for their secular leftist views went missing.
Pakistan Vision 2025 In August 2014, the Sharif administration unveiled an ambitious programme to enhance exports to US$150 billion by 2025. According to the
Daily Times, the Vision 2025 is based on seven pillars: putting people first; developing human and social capital; achieving sustained, indigenous and inclusive growth; governance, institutional reform and modernisation of the
public sector; energy, water and food security; private-sector-led growth and entrepreneurship, developing a competitive knowledge economy through value addition and modernisation of transportation infrastructure and greater regional connectivity.
Nuclear power policy In November 2013, Nawaz broke ground on a US$9.59 billion nuclear power complex in
Karachi, designed to produce 2200
MW of electricity. During the groundbreaking ceremony, Nawaz stated that Pakistan would construct six nuclear power plants during his term in office. He went on to say that Pakistan has plans to construct a total of 32 nuclear power plants by 2050, which will generate more than 40,000 MW. In February 2014, Nawaz confirmed to the IAEA that all future civilian nuclear power plants and research reactors will voluntarily be put under IAEA safeguards. Nawaz attended the
2014 Nuclear Security Summit, and stated that Pakistan was giving nuclear security the highest importance.
FATA reform (red) with
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. On 3 March 2017, Nawaz's cabinet approved a set of steps to be taken for the proposed merger of the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) with
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with a 10-year billion development-reform package. Under the reform project, the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court and the
Peshawar High Court will be extended to the FATA region.
National security and defence policy On 9 September 2013, Nawaz proposed a
civil-military partnership, and immediately reestablished the
National Security Council with
Sartaj Aziz as his
National Security Advisor (NSA). Nawaz also reconstituted the
Cabinet Committee on National Security (C2NS), with military representation in the political body. According to political scientist and civic-military relations expert Aqil Shah, Nawaz finally did exactly what former
chairman joint chiefs Jehangir Karamat had called for in 1998. On 15 September, just six days after Nawaz's proposal for talks with the Taliban, a roadside bomb killed
Major-General Sanaullah Khan, a lieutenant colonel and another soldier in the
Upper Dir district near the Afghanistan border. Taliban spokesman
Shahidullah Shahid claimed responsibility for the bombing. On the same day, seven more soldiers were killed in four separate attacks. In a press release,
Chairman joint chiefs General
Khalid Shameem Wynne and
chief of army staff General
Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, who had earlier warned Nawaz not to adopt a surrender strategy, publicly warned the government that the military would not allow the Taliban to set conditions for peace. General Kayani stated: "No-one should have any misgivings that we would let terrorists coerce us into accepting their terms." Seven members of the Pakistani Taliban conducted a
terrorist attack on a public school in the city of
Peshawar on 16 December, killing over 130 children in Pakistan's deadliest terrorist attack. In response to the attack, Nawaz – with consultation from all political parties – devised a 20-point
National Action Plan which included continued execution of convicted terrorists,
establishment of special military courts for two years and regulation of
madrasas. Based on the National Action Plan, the government made 32,347 arrests in 28,826 operations conducted across the country from 24 December 2014 to 25 March 2015. During the same period, Pakistan deported 18,855 Afghan refugees while the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered 64 cases for money transfer through
hawala, arrested 83 people and recovered million. In total, 351 actionable calls were received on the anti-terror helpline and
National Database and Registration Authority verified 59.47 million . On 28 March 2016, a
suicide attack by the
Jamaat-ul-Ahrar at a park in Lahore killed 70 people on the evening of
Easter Sunday. Analysts believed that Nawaz's desire to maintain stability in Punjab led him to turn a blind eye towards groups operating there. Following the attack, Pakistan detained more than 5,000 suspects and made 216 arrests.
Karachi operation The Sharif government launched a
Pakistan Rangers-led operation on 5 September 2013 in
Karachi, aimed at removing crime and terrorism from the metropolis. During the first phase, which lasted until 10 August 2015, Rangers were reported to have conducted 5,795 raids during which they had apprehended 10,353 suspects and recovered 7,312 weapons. Prominent among the raids were 11 March raid on the
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) headquarters
Nine Zero and the offices of Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). The first phase also saw a total of 826 terrorists, 334 target killers, and 296 extortionists arrested. The Rangers expanded their mandate to kidnappers, and arrested 82 abductors and secured the release of 49 captives. The report stated that targeted killing in the city had dropped by over 80%. On 23 August 2016, officials claimed that they had arrested 654 target killers affiliated with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement's (MQM) armed wing since 4 September 2013.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb Negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban collapsed after the execution of 23
Frontier Corps by the Taliban on 17 February 2014, and relations worsened with the Taliban's
2014 Jinnah International Airport attack.
Operation Zarb-e-Azb was formally launched on 15 June 2014 after the Sharif administration prepared for a three-front offensive: isolating targeted militant groups, obtaining support from the political parties, and protecting civilians from reprisals.
Foreign policy Neighbouring countries Nawaz launched 'peaceful neighbourhood' initiative to improve Pakistan's ties with India,
Afghanistan,
Iran and China. On 12 May 2014, Nawaz met Iranian President
Hassan Rouhani amid tensions over the February kidnapping of five Iranian soldiers by extremists who took them into Pakistan. On 27 October 2016, Nawaz hosted the 15th ministerial meeting of
Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC), and proposed an Open Skies Agreement between the countries.
China was welcomed by eight JF-17s upon entering Pakistani airspace, 2015. Chinese Premier
Li Keqiang was the first world leader to visit Pakistan and congratulate Nawaz on his 2013 electoral victory. Upon return to Beijing, Li announced investment of US$31.5 billion in Pakistan, mainly in energy, infrastructure and a port expansion for
Gwadar, the terminus of the
China–Pakistan Economic Corridor. According to
The Express Tribune, Sharif's government had charged the army with providing fool-proof security to Chinese officials in
Balochistan to address Beijing's concerns regarding investment in the province, which was to receive 38% of the funds. On 8 November 2014, Nawaz led a delegation to Beijing and signed agreements for Chinese investment reportedly worth about $46 billion. Nawaz also announced Pakistan would aid China it its fight against the
East Turkestan Islamic Movement. On 24 June 2015 and again on 1 April 2016 China blocked India's move in the UN to ban
Jaish-e-Mohammed chief
Masood Azhar; the Chinese action was in "consultation" with Pakistan. On 25 June 2016, Pakistan became a full member of
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. On 4 September 2016, Pakistan's cabinet was given approval to negotiate a long-term defence agreement with China.
India received by PM Nawaz Sharif during former's unprecedented surprise visit to
Lahore in 2015. Nawaz launched talks with India to liberalize their trade relationship, and gained an agreement of Non-Discriminatory Market Access on Reciprocal Basis (NDMARB) status for the two countries on 26 March 2014. However,
The Times of India reported that Pakistan's military pressured Nawaz to stop trade liberalisation with India. Nawaz attended 26 May 2014
first oath of office ceremony of Narendra Modi as prime minister, the first time that a prime minister from one state attended the inauguration of their counterpart. They agreed to further cooperate on trade. In October 2014, 20 civilians were killed and thousands forced to flee their homes when
Pakistani and Indian security forces began shelling in Kashmir, each side blaming the other for the incident. The following month, Nawaz blamed India for an inflexible approach towards resolving the
Kashmir dispute. According to
Barkha Dutt during the 2015
SAARC Summit, Nawaz and Modi held a secret meeting. On 10 December 2015, during the Heart of Asia conference, Pakistan and India announced that they were resuming dialogue on outstanding issues, ending a two-year stalemate. On 1 April 2015, Modi made his first visit to Pakistan in a surprise stopover in
Lahore to meet Nawaz on his birthday. Modi and Nawaz held a brief meeting at
Raiwind Palace. Modi also attended the wedding ceremony of Nawaz's granddaughter.
Balochistan's Home Minister
Sarfraz Bugti announced on 25 March 2016 that they had arrested an Indian naval intelligence officer working for
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
Kulbhushan Jadhav was alleged to be involved in financially supporting terrorists and to have also confessed to his involvement in the unrest in
Karachi. The same day,
India's Ministry of External Affairs stated that Jadhav had had no involvement with the government since his early retirement from the Indian Navy. India also demanded consular access for him. On 29 March 2016, Sharif's government released a six-minute video of Jadhav apparently confessing to the RAW's involvement in the country. On 1 April, Pakistan further said that security agencies had arrested several suspects believed to be working for RAW. Relations between India and Pakistan escalated with the killing of Kashmiri militant
Burhan Wani by Indian security forces on 8 July 2016.
Anti-Indian protests started in all 10 districts of
Indian-administered Kashmir. The unrest led to a standstill in bilateral relations. Indian Home Minister
Rajnath Singh accused Pakistan of backing unrest in Kashmir. Tensions reached a boiling point
when militants attacked an army base in the Indian-controlled side of Kashmir and killed 18 soldiers. Indian army military operations head Lieutenant-General
Ranbir Singh claimed that there was evidence the attackers were members of an Islamist militant group in Pakistan. Addressing the
UN General Assembly on 22 September 2016, Nawaz demanded an independent inquiry and a UN fact-finding mission to investigate
extrajudicial killing and
human rights abuses in Jammu and Kashmir. India's junior foreign minister
M. J. Akbar criticised Nawaz for glorifying Wani. On 13 May 2018, after his ouster as prime minister, during an interview with newspaper
Dawn, The remarks were heavily condemned and rejected by Pakistan’s National Security Committee, who stated that it was misleading, and that many political figures describing Sharif's statements had hurt national interests.
Afghanistan Nawaz greeted Afghan President
Ashraf Ghani on 15 November 2014 and pledged his support to the Afghan president over his attempt to bring the Taliban to the negotiating table.
Al Jazeera reported that "the leaders also pledged to begin a new era of economic co-operation, with Ghani saying three days of talks had ended 13 years of testy relations". The two countries also signed a trade deal aimed at doubling trade between the Kabul and Islamabad to US$5 billion by 2017, while also pledging to work together on a power import project and
Trans-Afghanistan Pipeline. During the visit Nawaz and Ghani also watched a cricket match between the two countries. During June 2016, cross-
border shootings between Afghan and Pakistani forces left three people dead after tensions escalated over Pakistan's construction of fences across the
Durand Line. On 20 June, Pakistan completed the construction of a
trench along the border in Balochistan.
United States during a bilateral meeting in Islamabad, 2015 Nawaz paid an official visit to
Washington, D.C. from 20 to 23 October 2013. He and
Barack Obama committed to strengthening relations and advancing shared interests for a prosperous Pakistan.
Voice of America reported that the US released more than US$1.6 billion in military and economic aid that was suspended when relations suffered over the
covert raid that killed Osama bin Laden in 2011. On Pakistan's request the United States temporarily stopped
drone strikes in north-western Pakistan. In March 2016, as one of Sharif's foreign policy successes, the
United States Senate blocked a bid to derail the sale of
F-16 Falcons to Pakistan by
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman
Bob Corker, who continued to vow to block the use of US funds to finance the deal. US Senator
John McCain travelled to Pakistan on 26 July 2016 to discuss counterterrorism efforts in the region. In the
Financial Times, McCain called upon the US and Pakistani leaders not to "allow ambivalence and suspicion to fester", adding that "common interests in counterterrorism, nuclear security and regional stability are too important and too urgent". He also called upon the
Obama administration to "make clear its enduring commitment to Pakistan's stability and economic growth." McCain also visited
Miramshah in
North Waziristan. Republican Congressmen
Ted Poe and
Dana Rohrabacher moved a bill in the US Congress on 21 September to designate Pakistan as a
state sponsor of terrorism. McCain assured former Pakistani President
Asif Ali Zardari that the bill would not pass, and that its sponsors represented a small minority. Nawaz called president-elect
Donald Trump on 1 December 2016 to congratulate him. The statement released by Nawaz's office quoted Trump calling Nawaz a "terrific guy", adding that Pakistan is a "fantastic country, fantastic place".
Trump Tower put out a statement saying that they "had a productive conversation about how the United States and Pakistan will have a strong working relationship in the future." On 3 December,
Dawn reported that a US National Defence Authorisation Act was set to be approved by the
US Congress which would recognise Pakistan as a key strategic partner and pledge more than US$900 million in economic and other assistance to the country; half of that would be dependent on Pakistan's commitment to fighting all terrorist groups, including the
Haqqani network.
Europe William Hague with Nawaz in London Nawaz visited London on 30 April 2014 and met
David Cameron and other officials, and delivered a keynote address at the Pakistan Investment Conference. According to Cameron's staff, the leaders agreed to work together to support critical economic reforms for Pakistan, particularly to increase the tax-to-GDP ratio towards 15%, and welcomed the developing relationship between the
Federal Board of Revenue and
HM Revenue and Customs to support this. On 11 November 2014, Nawaz visited
Berlin where he met with
German Chancellor Angela Merkel. According to
Deutsche Welle, during the meeting Nawaz argued for more German investment, particularly in the energy sector, but Merkel expressed wariness over the security situation in Pakistan. In 2014, during the visit of Russian Defence Minister
Sergey Shoygu, Pakistan and Russia signed an agreement on military cooperation. Shoygu held in-depth talks with Nawaz, who promised to promote multi-dimensional relations with Russia. The meeting came months after Russia had lifted an embargo on supplying weapons and military hardware to Pakistan, starting with
Mil Mi-24 helicopters. As a sign of improving ties, Russian forces arrived in Pakistan on 23 September 2016 to participate in joint military exercises.
Muslim world in
Saadabad Palace. Nawaz is said to enjoy exceptionally close ties with senior members of the
Saudi royal family.
Pakistan Today reported on 2 April 2014 that Pakistan will sell
JF-17 Thunder jets to Saudi Arabia, after the kingdom had given a grant of US$1.5 billion to Pakistan in early 2014. Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud arrived in Pakistan on 15 February to meet Nawaz and vowed to enhance work between the two countries. Sharif travelled to Saudi Arabia for the last 10 days of
Ramadan. King Abdullah said on 26 July that Saudi Arabia would always stand by Pakistan, its leadership and people, after an hour-long meeting with Nawaz at his
Riyadh. Nawaz also met
Muqrin bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, while
Salman of Saudi Arabia referred to Pakistan as his second home.
Al-Monitor reported on 15 March 2015 that the Salman of Saudi Arabia wanted firm assurances from Nawaz that Pakistan would align itself with Saudi Arabia and its Sunni Arab allies against
Iran, especially in the
proxy war underway in Yemen. Salman specifically wanted a Pakistani military contingent to deploy to the kingdom to defend the borders. Nawaz promised closer counter-terrorism and military co-operation but no troops for the immediate future. On 11 January 2016,
Time stated that a high-level Saudi delegation including
Adel al-Jubeir and
Mohammed bin Salman had travelled to Islamabad to seek Pakistan's inclusion in the 34-country "Islamic military alliance". However, Nawaz struck a more conciliatory tone, suggesting that Islamabad would mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran. On 19 January 2016, Nawaz and Chief of Army Staff
Raheel Sharif embarked on a peace mission to Riyadh and Tehran to reduce tensions which had escalated with the execution of
Sheikh Nimr On 16 March 2016,
Zee News claimed that Saudi Arabia was creating a military alliance of Islamic countries along the lines of the
NATO, and wished Pakistan to lead it.
Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition was eventually created and led by Raheel. Nawaz supported the
Saudi-led intervention in Bahrain and in his visit to Saudi Arabia he reassured that he would "help devise a new battle plan for Saudi intervention in the country." == Post-premiership ==