Former Saudi foreign minister Prince Saud al-Faisal dies

Saud Al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s longtime foreign minister until this year, died on Thursday, July 9, 2015. (Brendan Smialowski, Pool Photo via AP)

Once the world’s longest-serving foreign minister, Saudi Arabia’s Prince Saud al-Faisal has died, as reported by family members and a foreign ministry spokesman on Thursday.

His death came over two months after he was replaced following 40 years in the job.

Prince Saud, who was appointed in 1975, was the world’s longest-serving foreign minister when he was replaced on April 29 by Adel al-Jubeir, the then ambassador to Washington.

His term saw many events, invasions and wars such as Israel invade Lebanon in 1978, 1982 and 2006, the eruption of Palestinian intifadas in 1987 and 2000, Iraq’s invasions of Iran in 1980 and Kuwait in 1990, and the occupation of Iraq by a US-led coalition in 2003.

Prince Saud, a son of King Faisal, was born in 1940 in Taif near Mecca, where in 1989 he helped negotiate the agreement that ended Lebanon’s 15-year civil war.

Having a degree from Princeton in 1960s, his career as a diplomat began when the new King Khaled named him as foreign minister after Prince Saud’s father Faisal was assassinated, and he was, subsequently appointed in October 1975.

When he was appointed in October 1975, the region was dominated by Cold War rivalries, and secular pan-Arab nationalism seemed to be the future.

Pakistan PM Nawaz extends condolences

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed his condolences on Prince Saud’s demise.

He said Prince Saud’s death was a great loss not only for the people of Saudi Arabia but also for the people of Pakistan and that the late Saudi foreign minister was a great friend and supporter of Pakistan.