PM Shehbaz Visits Qatar to Offer Condolences, Discuss Regional Security

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday reached Qatar on a one-day visit to offer condolences on the passing of former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and to discuss the latest military and political situation developing in the region.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in an initial statement that PML-N President Nawaz Sharif was also accompanying the premier.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar are also accompanying the prime minister.

In a statement officials of PMO said the Pakistani delegation was received by Qatar’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defence Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan bin Ali Al Thani.

It added that PM Shehbaz was scheduled to meet Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is also the son of late Sheikh Hamad, at Lusail Palace.

During the meeting, the prime minister would convey his condolences to the Qatari emir, the Qatari royal family and the people of Qatar, the statement said.
In its initial statement, the PMO said the prime minister’s visit to Qatar reflected the decades-long, enduring fraternal relations between the Qatari royal family, the Qatari people, and the government and people of Pakistan.

On Sunday, Qatar announced the death of its former emir, who led the country from 1995 to 2013. He was 74, according to an official government statement.
Sheikh Hamad was widely regarded as one of the principal architects of modern Qatar, having overseen a period of rapid economic growth and transformation during his tenure.

Subsequently, Pakistan announced that a day of mourning would be observed today.

The national flag will fly at half-mast across the country, according to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division and shared by the PMO on Sunday.
Diplomatic engagement has gathered momentum through high-level contacts between the leadership of the two countries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the Emir of Qatar have reaffirmed their commitment to coordinated mediation, while Qatari officials have travelled to Tehran to explore avenues for reviving negotiations.

Pakistan has also remained in contact with Iranian leaders, emphasizing restraint and offering continued facilitation for any future dialogue between Washington and Tehran.

Analysts believe Pakistan and Qatar are emerging as complementary mediators, combining Islamabad’s channels with Tehran and Washington with Doha’s long-standing role as a trusted regional interlocutor. Their joint diplomatic efforts are focused not only on restoring the stalled peace process but also on safeguarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and preventing the conflict from spilling over into the wider Gulf and South Asian regions