Qatari FM makes surprise stopover in Islamabad

Secrecy surrounding the visit fuels speculations related to Panamagate case against PM

ISLAMABAD: Qatar’s foreign minister made a brief stopover in Islamabad on Tuesday as part of his country’s diplomatic efforts to woo Pakistan’s support in the face of Doha’s lingering stalemate with other Gulf countries.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, heading a four-member delegation, was taken straight to the Prime Minister Office soon after he landed at the Noor Khan Airbase on a special plane.

The visit was directly coordinated by the Prime Minister Office as the foreign ministry was not in the loop and did not even know till afternoon if the top Qatari diplomat was arriving.

The secrecy surrounding Qatari minister’s visit fuelled speculations linking it to the ongoing Panamagate saga.

However, a senior government official called such speculations rubbish, insisting that such communications were not done through open and official channels.

The official, who requested anonymity, told The Express Tribune that the Qatari minister travelled to Pakistan as part of his country’s efforts to brief other countries on the prevailing crisis in the Gulf region.



Last month, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt abruptly severed diplomatic ties with Qatar. They accused Doha of sponsoring terrorism and presented a list of 13 demands to it. Qatar, however, denied the allegations and refused to accept the demands.

Pakistan has been treading a careful path since the crisis engulfed the Gulf region. During his visit to Saudi Arabia last month, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was reportedly asked by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz to side with the Kingdom. Islamabad, however, decided to support efforts that are only meant to unite the Muslim world.

The Qatari minister’s visit and his meeting with PM Nawaz are also seen as sending a message to Gulf countries that Pakistan cannot be persuaded to follow a certain line.

An official statement issued here said the Qatari foreign minister briefed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Qatar’s response to the demands of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt and on the current status of the mediation efforts by Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait.

“The prime minister appreciated the sagacity and wisdom of his highness, the emir of Kuwait and said that Pakistan supports his sincere efforts in finding a solution to the current crises in the Gulf region,” the official handout read.

The premier noted the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar.  He stressed that Pakistan maintains close, friendly and cooperative 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 between brotherly Islamic countries,” he was quoted as saying by his office.

The Qatari minister 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.