Islamabad, 24 March 2022 (TDI): Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood met Qatari Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Regional Affairs, Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi, on the sidelines of the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) in Islamabad.
MEETING ON THE SIDELINES OF CFM SESSION
The Foreign Secretary and Assistant Foreign Minister reviewed the multi-faceted Pakistan-Qatar relations; in addition to exchanging views on regional and international issues.
The Foreign Secretary; while highlighting the excellent bilateral relationship, reiterated Pakistan’s resolve to enhance cooperation in all areas of mutual interest.
He also lauded Qatar’s constructive contribution towards regional peace and stability, particularly in the context of the Afghan peace process. The Foreign Secretary also noted the convergence of views between the two sides on the imperative of addressing the urgent humanitarian and economic needs of the Afghan people.
He stressed that after 40 years of conflict and instability; there was a unique opportunity to consolidate peace in Afghanistan and this opportunity must be seized.
The Assistant Foreign Minister appreciated Pakistan’s leadership in facilitating concrete outcomes from the Extraordinary session of the OIC-CFM held in Islamabad in December 2021 for addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. He also congratulated Pakistan on the successful hosting of the 48th OIC-CFM session.
Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood apprised of the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He also emphasized that the recent incident of the firing of a missile into Pakistan from India raised multiple disturbing questions which required a joint probe for establishing the facts.
While Pakistan was acting with restraint and responsibility, India’s irresponsible conduct was posing a threat to regional peace and security. The Foreign Secretary stressed that the international community must hold India accountable for its actions.
PAKISTAN-QATAR DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS
Both countries established diplomatic relations in the early seventies. According to the Embassy of Pakistan in Qatar; since the establishment of relations, Pakistan and Qatar enjoy strong relations, strengthened by mutual visits at the highest levels.
During those visits; the two countries have signed several agreements in the field of politics, economy, trade exchange, investments, culture, education, and many other important fields.
One of those agreements was the long-term one to import about 3.5 million tons of LNG annually from Qatar. This marked a new beginning of the economic partnership between the two brotherly countries.
This was proof that the Qatari Government wanted to support their Pakistani counterparts to face the energy crisis. The bilateral trade exchange reached two billion dollars. Furthermore, the embassy remarked that in Qatar; about 1400 joint companies are operating in various fields in Qatar, and also 7 companies are completely owned by Pakistanis.
