The Saudi Press Agency said Prince Abdullah received a message from Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Kasuri also held “in-depth talks” with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal.

A statement by the Pakistani Embassy said the two sides shared the view that the United Nations must have a substantial role in the reconstruction of Iraq.

“They also emphasized the need to uphold Iraq’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the embassy added.

The two sides urged the US-British forces to leave Iraq as soon as possible and set up an interim administration with a view to establishing a constitutional government.

This would enable the Iraqi people to choose their own government and political system in full freedom without any foreign interference, the statement said.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan stressed the necessity to restore peace and security in Iraq immediately. “They reiterated that the wealth and resources of Iraq belonged to the Iraqi people,” the statement said.

The two countries opposed any further military action in the region, saying a series of wars and armed conflicts in the Middle East had caused massive human and material losses over the past decades. They also said differences should be settled through dialogue.

Saudi Arabia and Pakistan said the Middle East peace process must be urgently activated to find a just and lasting solution to the Palestinian problem by establishing an independent Palestinian state.

Both countries agreed in their views on the other international and regional issues that came up for discussion, including Kashmir and Pakistan’s relations with India and Afghanistan.

“The Saudi leaders reiterated their solidarity with Pakistan on its principled stand on the issue of Kashmir,” the embassy said.

It said Prince Saud has accepted an invitation from Kasuri to visit Pakistan.