The Prime Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with the Emir that will cover the entire spectrum of relations.
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will meet Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday (today) with a broad agenda that includes the latest escalation of tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Gaza peace plan, the US-Iran standoff and other pressing regional developments.
This is the Prime Minister’s third visit to Qatar in the last five months, underscoring the growing strategic importance of ties between Islamabad and Doha. The prime minister had traveled to Doha twice in September: first to express solidarity with Qatar following the Israeli attacks and then to attend the Arab-Islamic summit held in the Qatari capital.
The latest trip comes against the backdrop of a series of major regional developments, particularly on Pakistan’s western border.
Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Doha on Monday for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Emir. He was received at Hamad International Airport by Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al Khulaifi. Pakistan’s Ambassador to Qatar Muhammad Aamer and senior diplomatic officials were also present to welcome the visiting delegation.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is accompanying the Prime Minister, along with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit reflects the deep-rooted fraternal ties between the two countries and underlines their shared commitment to strengthening multifaceted cooperation.
During his stay, the prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with the emir covering the entire spectrum of relations, including political engagement, economic collaboration, energy partnership and people-to-people exchanges. However, officials said regional security issues would dominate discussions.
The prime minister’s visit comes just days after Pakistan carried out cross-border attacks inside Afghanistan, targeting terrorist hideouts responsible for a series of deadly attacks on Pakistani soil. The attacks followed a series of suicide bombings, which further strained already fragile ties between Islamabad and Kabul.
Sources said the prime minister will brief Qatar’s leaders on the latest situation, particularly Pakistan’s concerns regarding the use of Afghan territory by militant groups to launch cross-border attacks. Islamabad has long maintained that banned outfits have found sanctuaries inside Afghanistan.
Qatar has previously played a quiet but important mediating role between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Doha had facilitated secondary contacts and helped negotiate a ceasefire at a critical time. However, reaching a comprehensive agreement that would address Pakistan’s long-standing security concerns remained elusive.
Diplomatic sources believe that Islamabad is keen to once again take advantage of Qatar’s good offices, given its close ties with various stakeholders in Afghanistan and its established role as a regional mediator. The other key issue likely to feature prominently in the talks is the Gaza peace plan and proposals for an international stabilization force.
Pakistan and Qatar are part of an eight-nation Muslim bloc that backed former U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace initiative and joined the “Peace Board,” a platform meant to coordinate diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire and post-conflict reconstruction.
With the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepening and ceasefire efforts facing obstacles, both Islamabad and Doha are expected to exchange views on the next phase of diplomatic engagement and broader coordination of the Muslim world.
Rising tensions between Iran and the United States are also expected to be discussed. Qatar and Pakistan, along with other countries in the region, have maintained quiet diplomacy to deter Washington from launching attacks on Tehran amid growing hostilities.
The officials said both countries view any escalation involving Iran as deeply destabilizing for the broader region, particularly the Gulf, where millions of Pakistani expatriates live and work.
Maintaining regional stability remains a shared priority for Islamabad and Doha.
Beyond regional politics, both sides are expected to explore new avenues of cooperation in trade, investment, energy and infrastructure development.
The Foreign Ministry said the visit would provide an opportunity for both leaders to exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest, reaffirming their determination to work closely for peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
