Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday to congratulate him on Pakistan’s pivotal role in brokering a historic preliminary peace agreement between the United States and Iran. This diplomatic breakthrough, termed the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was formally presented to Pakistan’s parliament the same day after six rounds of discreet backchannel negotiations led by Islamabad.
During the conversation, the Qatari emir praised Sharif’s leadership and reaffirmed Doha’s unwavering support for Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional stability. Sharif expressed his appreciation for Qatar’s steadfast backing, highlighting that this diplomatic achievement was made possible through the persistent efforts of Pakistan’s military chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, alongside the constructive involvement of allied nations including Qatar.
The leaders also expressed satisfaction with the completion of the initial round of technical talks between Washington and Tehran, which took place in Burgenstock, Switzerland. They emphasized the importance of sustaining positive momentum throughout the 60-day negotiation period and agreed on the necessity of protecting the delicate peace process from any external disruptions.
The discussion further covered a recent tragic incident at the Barzan gas facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, where a Pakistani national lost his life in a fire. The Qatari emir conveyed his heartfelt condolences, while Sharif thanked him for his sympathies and commended Qatar’s leadership for hosting over 300,000 Pakistani expatriates currently living in the Gulf state.
Reflecting on his official visit to Doha earlier this year, Sharif extended an invitation to the Qatari emir to visit Islamabad. In response, the emir expressed his intention to visit Pakistan before the end of the year to advance talks on bilateral economic cooperation and evolving regional security issues.
