Islamabad offers Doha to set up arms production facilities

PM Nawaz says Qatar can count on Pakistan as their closest ally and brotherly state

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has offered Qatar all possible technical assistance for setting up military hardware production facilities on Transfer of Technology (ToT) basis as Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said Pakistan, Qatar and Turkey can set up joint ventures for undertaking defence related manufacturing.

The development came on Thursday as Qatar’s Minister of Defence Affairs Dr Khalid bin Mohammad al Attiyah held separate meetings with PM Nawaz, Army chief General Raheel Sharif and Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif.



Talking to the minister at the PM House, Nawaz said: “Our relationship with Qatar means a lot to us and you can count on Pakistan as your closest ally and brotherly state.

“The relations between the two nations will be further strengthened into sustained economic cooperation for the benefits of both the countries,” the PM said.

“The trade volume between Qatar and Pakistan will multiply, especially after the import of LNG from Qatar”, Nawas added. He also extended his heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al-Thani, the grandfather of Emir of Qatar.

Dr Khalid said Qatar sees Pakistan as a strategic partner and every effort would be made to make this relationship stronger.

He said with the assistance and cooperation of Pakistan, Qatar wanted to improve its military hardware to be prepared for the uncertain threat of terrorism, prevailing in the region.

“We are desirous of buying Super Mushshak and JF-17 Thunder aircraft from Pakistan and also want to set up military cooperation and production of equipment in Qatar with the assistance of Pakistan and Turkey,” he added.



He said Qatar will also establish a training academy for countering the unconventional enemy of terrorism and will seek services and expertise of the Pakistani instructors.

The defence minister also extended condolences to the prime minister on the loss of precious human lives in the terrorist attack on Police Training Centre in Quetta.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif extended ‘all possible technical assistance to Qatar for setting up military hardware production facilities on the ToT basis’ during a meeting with Qatar’s minister, who called on him along with a delegation said a press release.

Dr Khalid called on General Raheel Sharif at the General Headquarters to discuss ‘matters of mutual interest including defence and security cooperation, according to a statement of the ISPR.

Earlier upon his arrival at the GHQ, the Qatari minister laid wreath at Yadgar-e-Shuhada. A contingent of Pakistan Army also presented guard of honour to the visiting dignitary.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 28^th, 2016.