PM to visit Kuwait to condole death of Amir Sheikh Nawaf

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Monday will undertake a one-day visit to Kuwait, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

He will convey to the royal family, the government and the people of Kuwait the sympathies and condolences of the government and people of Pakistan on the sad demise of Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah, FO Spokesperson said.

Meanwhile, the premier has also declared Monday, December 18 as a day of mourning in Pakistan as an expression of fraternal solidarity on behalf of the people and government of Pakistan, with the royal family, the government, and people of Kuwait on the sad demise of Amir of Kuwait.

The national flag shall fly at half mast throughout the country on the day.

Sheikh Nawaf died on Saturday. He was 83 when he became Amir in 2020, at the time the oldest ruler to take power in the Gulf state that was invaded and occupied by Iraq in 1990.

Read more: Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah dies

His three-year reign as Amir, relatively short by Kuwait standards, was marred by ill-health. His predecessor and brother, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, reigned for 14 years and shaped the Gulf state's foreign policy for two generations.

Sheikh Nawaf, whose casket was draped in Kuwait's flag, was buried at Sulaibikhat cemetery alongside his kin, after prayers at Bilal bin Rabah mosque. He died aged 86.

Dignitaries pay respect

Dignitaries from around the world, including US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Jordan's King Abdullah were due in Kuwait to pay their respects. Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived in Kuwait in the afternoon.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also due to present condolences on behalf of President Ebrahim Raisi.

He would stress the importance of the development of bilateral relations in meetings with senior Kuwait officials, Iran's foreign ministry said.

The president of regional power the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on X wished Kuwait's new ruler success and said he would work with Sheikh Meshal to advance cooperation in the Gulf.

With additional input from Reuters