Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had a telephonic conversation where the former inquired about Khan’s health and invited him to visit the Kingdom, reported The Express Tribune. 

The development comes against the backdrop of covert diplomatic efforts to ease the strain in the bilateral ties.

“The Crown Prince invited the Prime Minister to undertake a visit to Saudi Arabia in the near future. The Prime Minister graciously accepted the invitation,” reads the statement released by Khan’s office. 

Earlier, the soured ties between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan led the former to seek their $3 billion from the latter which had earlier been given to Pakistan as part of a $6 billion bailout package.  

During the call, Khan also lauded Green Saudi Initiative and Green Middle East Initiative taken by Saudi Arabia to transform the region’s economy, reads the statement released. He also mentioned Pakistan’s initiative of planting 10 billion trees to take the challenges of climate change.

Earlier on Saturday, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi spoke to his Saudi counterpart, Prince Farhan bin Farhan al-Saud and with the UAE foreign minister. The report says the two countries are expected to play a crucial role in easing tensions between Pakistan and India.