Islamabad, Sep 20 : By playing a key role in the deportation of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to Jeddah, the Saudi Government has in fact helped Pakistan to avert a threat to its peace and unity, Saudi Ambassador Ali Awadh Asseri has claimed.

Commenting on the Saudi support to Pakistan, Asseri said, "This support has been extended not as a favour to another country, but as a fulfilment of responsibility towards a friend and a brother."

He went on to say that the Saudi Government had responded immediately and positively whenever there was any issue of concern in Pakistan.

"Pakistan's unity, integrity and sovereignty are as important to Saudi Arabia as its own. We have always stood by the side of Pakistan whenever it has been threatened from outside, " The Nation quoted Asseri, as saying.

"Pakistan's strength has been our strength and Pakistan's problems our problems. It has always been our endeavor to extend total and resolute support to brotherly Pakistan under all circumstances," he added.

"Saudi Arabia played a sincere mediatory role solely with the intention of extending support to brotherly Pakistan and rid it of a problem that may have threatened its peace," the Saudi ambassador said.

"It was not a role to divide but a role to remove any threats to the unity of brotherly Pakistan, " Asseri added.

Talking about the media criticism of Sharif's deportation, he said, ""While it remains the inalienable right of all organs of the media to comment on an issue as it deems right, it is unfortunate that Saudi Arabia has been made the target of some vicious criticism in news releases and articles in the print media as well as in talk shows on the electronic media."

Asseri, however, said that the vicious onslaught has crossed all thresholds of professional journalism and gone to the extent of equating the holy land with Guantanamo and other such places.

Rebutting the reports of the involvement of US in Sharif's deportation, the Ambassador said that it was purely a bilateral issue between Islamabad and Riyadh and had nothing to do with Washington.

He said that Khadim ul Harmain al Sharifain holds his commitment to Sharif and the Pakistan Government equally dearly and would do any thing to honour the same.

"In both cases, this commitment springs from his love and affection for Pakistan and his belief that he has to submit himself before the will of Allah Subhanatallah on the Day of Judgement," he added. (With inputs from ANI)