The Qatari Foreign Minister arrived on a brief visit to the country and according to the statement, he briefed the Prime Minister on Qatar's response to the demands of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain and Egypt and on the current status of the mediation efforts of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait. It stated that the Prime Minister noted the brotherly relations between Pakistan and the State of Qatar, adding the Prime Minister stressed that Pakistan maintains close, friendly and co-operative relations with all GCC countries and is concerned at the recent crisis in the Middle East.
"The people and government of Pakistan wish to see a diplomatic solution of the problem among brotherly Islamic countries," the Prime Minister was quoted by his media office in the statement to have conveyed to the visiting Qatari Foreign Minister. The Foreign Minister of Qatar, according to the statement, expressed his gratitude to the Prime Minister for the warm reception and reiterated Qatar's desire to further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz was also present on the occasion. On June 05, 2017, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Bahrain, Yemen and the Maldives severed their ties with Qatar, accusing it of supporting terrorism in the region. Qatar, however, rejected the allegations. On June 23, 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies issued 13-point ultimatum to Qatar as the price for lifting the trade and diplomatic embargo of the country, which also included curbing diplomatic ties with Iran, shutting down al-Jazeera and its affiliate stations, besides, stopping all means of funding for individuals, groups or organisations that have been designated as terrorists by Saudi Arabia and its allies.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017