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The move signals a shift by energy-rich Gulf states toward securing artificial intelligence supply chains, semiconductor manufacturing, critical minerals, and digital infrastructure.

Qatar, UAE join Pax Silica alliance on global technology supply chains

DOHA: Some personnel have been asked to depart the United States&#39; Al Udeid military base in Qatar, two diplomatic sources told AFP on Wednesday, with the Gulf state saying &quot;regional tensions&quot; were behind the move.&nbsp;The decision comes after Washington&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-keeps-iran-air-strikes-on-table-white-house-says" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">threatened</a>&nbsp;to respond to an Iranian government crackdown on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-warns-of-very-strong-action-if-iran-hangs-protesters" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">protests</a>&nbsp;while Tehran has said it would strike US military and shipping assets in the event of a new attack.&nbsp;The measure was taken &quot;in response to the current regional tensions&quot;, Qatar&#39;s International Media Office said in a statement.&nbsp;&quot;Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,&quot; it added.&nbsp;A diplomatic source told AFP earlier that a number of personnel were asked to leave the base by Wednesday evening.&nbsp;A second source confirmed the information, also on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;The US embassy in Qatar declined to comment on personnel movement at Al Udeid.&nbsp;In June, Iran targeted the United States&#39; Al Udeid military base in Qatar in response to earlier American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.&nbsp;Ali Shamkhani, a senior adviser to Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned US President Donald Trump on Wednesday that the strike on the base had demonstrated &quot;Iran&#39;s will and capability to respond to any attack&quot;.&nbsp;Doha was able to leverage the unprecedented attack on its soil to help deliver a speedy truce between Washington and Tehran.&nbsp;Washington has repeatedly said the United States is considering air strikes on Iran to stop a crackdown on protesters.&nbsp;Trump on Tuesday said in a CBS News interview that the United States would act if Iran began hanging protesters.&nbsp;Iranian authorities called the American warnings a &quot;pretext for military intervention&quot;.&nbsp;Mass protests in Iran since Thursday have posed one of the biggest challenges to the clerical leadership since the 1979 Islamic revolution ousted the shah.&nbsp;Norway-based NGO Iran Human Rights said it had confirmed 734 people killed during the protests, including nine minors, but warned the death toll was likely far higher.&nbsp;&quot;The real number of those killed is likely in the thousands,&quot; IHR&#39;s director Mahmood Amiry-Moghaddam said.

Middle East

Qatar said some US personnel were asked to leave Al Udeid base due to regional tensions, amid US threats over Iran’s protest crackdown and Tehran’s warnings, following earlier Iranian strikes and unrest killing hundreds nationwide.

Qatar says some personnel departing US base over 'regional tensions': AFP sources

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday held virtual consultations with his counterparts from T&uuml;rkiye, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), focusing on regional developments and underscoring the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in easing tensions, the Foreign Office said.&nbsp;The consultations took place while Dar is on an official visit to Beijing, where he is co-chairing the 7th Pakistan-China Foreign Ministers&rsquo; Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, according to an earlier Foreign Office statement.&nbsp;During his separate conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Dar discussed the evolving regional situation, the statement said.&nbsp;The foreign minister welcomed the Saudi position on Yemen and &ldquo;appreciated the efforts of all sides to resolve&rdquo; regional issues through peaceful means, the Foreign Office added.&nbsp;In a separate interaction with UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Dar exchanged views on the broader regional environment and expressed satisfaction over what the statement described as a &ldquo;positive trajectory&rdquo; and recent improvements in the situation.&nbsp;&ldquo;DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar appreciated that dialogue and diplomacy have resulted in tangible outcomes on the ground,&rdquo; the Foreign Office said, adding that Pakistan continues to support peaceful engagement and cooperative approaches to regional challenges.

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar holds virtual talks with counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and UAE, discussing regional developments and praising dialogue and diplomacy for easing tensions

Pakistani FM consults Muslim-majority counterparts on regional stability, diplomacy

ISLAMABAD: In 2025, Israel launched an unprecedented series of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/the-bitter-relationship-between-israel-and-arab-states" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">military attacks across six countries in the Middle East</a>, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED).&nbsp; The data analysis group&rsquo;s report, &ldquo;Israel recalibrates its military campaigns in a region still on edge,&rdquo; highlights the growing scope and intensity of Israel&rsquo;s actions in the region. ACLED, an independent global conflict monitor, reported that Israel launched military attacks in Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, and Yemen throughout the year, marking the widest geographic reach of any military worldwide in 2025. &ldquo;In 2025, Israel launched attacks in Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, and Yemen,&rdquo; ACLED states, noting that between January 1 and November 28 alone, Israel &ldquo;undertook more than 12,500 military actions across the Middle East.&rdquo; Deadliest zone: Palestine (Gaza Strip and West Bank)ACLED identified the Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza, as the deadliest theater of Israel&rsquo;s military activity in 2025. &ldquo;Gaza remained the deadliest arena; the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/gaza-civil-defense-says-7-killed-in-israeli-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">IDF killed thousands</a>&nbsp;&mdash; the majority civilians &mdash; in strikes,&rdquo; the report details. Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) strikes reportedly killed over 16,100 Palestinians in Gaza. The report further stated that Israel broke a ceasefire in January and, by October, had &ldquo;confined Palestinians in Gaza to less than 25% of the enclave and was pushing to establish full control over Gaza City.&rdquo; In the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/14-countries-condemn-israels-expansion-of-west-bank-settlements" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Bank</a>, ACLED documented intensified Israeli military operations: &ldquo;The IDF conducted its largest operations in decades, displacing tens of thousands from the Jenin, Tulkarm, and Nur al-Shams camps.&rdquo; Lebanon: ongoing air and artillery strikesDespite a ceasefire, ACLED recorded that Israel continued to carry out air and artillery strikes in Lebanon. &ldquo;The IDF conducted nearly 1,600 air- and artillery strikes, as well as shooting attacks, in Lebanon,&rdquo; the report said. Israeli forces withdrew ground troops in February but continued &ldquo;hundreds of near-daily strikes, mainly in the south but also in the Bekaa Valley and Beirut,&rdquo; killing hundreds of Hezbollah fighters, including nearly 25 commanders. Iran: strategic campaignACLED describes Israel&rsquo;s campaign in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-says-missile-programme-defensive-nonnegotiable" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Iran</a>&nbsp;as the most strategically consequential foreign operation of 2025. &ldquo;Israel launched a 12-day military campaign consisting of over 350 airstrikes across 27 provinces, including in the capital Tehran,&rdquo; the report notes. Targets included missile sites, military bases, nuclear facilities, and government buildings, with assassinations of senior military leaders and nuclear scientists. Syria: expanded presence and strikesIsrael maintained and expanded its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/three-wounded-in-southern-syria-after-israeli-incursion-state-media" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">military presence in Syria</a>, according to ACLED. &ldquo;In Syria, the IDF targeted Syrian military assets despite al-Assad&rsquo;s ouster,&rdquo; the report says, noting that Israel &ldquo;established six additional outposts in the demilitarized buffer zone, deploying up to 15 kilometers inside Syria.&rdquo; Yemen: targeted operations against HouthisIn Yemen, Israel escalated its military campaign against Houthi forces. &ldquo;The IDF conducted operations on 16 separate days in 2025, killing over 120 people,&rdquo; ACLED states, highlighting strikes that decimated the Houthi de facto government and killed the military chief of staff. Qatar: Rare but significant targetACLED points out Israel&rsquo;s rare&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/qatar-says-us-claims-of-warnings-prior-to-doha-attack-are-%E2%80%98baseless%E2%80%99" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">military action in Qatar</a>, related to its pursuit of Hamas leaders. &ldquo;From Palestine to Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, Iran, and even Qatar, the Israel Defense Forces projected military power across the region in 2025,&rdquo; the report says. The strike in Qatar marked a diplomatic turning point affecting regional relations later in the year. ACLED concludes that Israel&rsquo;s 2025 military posture shifted from a status quo power to a more revisionist one, noting: &ldquo;Israel established or expanded buffer zones and military outposts in three countries.&rdquo; This data underscores the complex and far-reaching nature of Israel&rsquo;s military campaigns in the Middle East throughout 2025, marking one of the most active and geographically expansive years in recent regional history.

ACLED says Israel launched military attacks in Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Qatar, Syria, and Yemen throughout the year.

Israel attacked six Muslim countries in 2025: Report

RIYADH: A Saudi-led coalition said it targeted Tuesday a large quantity of weapons and combat vehicles destined for separatist forces that were being offloaded from ships at a port in Yemen, coming from the UAE.&nbsp;Yemen has been fighting a crippling war, as armed factions loosely grouped under the government and backed by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia turn on each other.&nbsp;The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council (STC), which seeks to revive the formerly independent state of South Yemen, has in recent weeks swept through swathes of the country, expelling other government forces and their allies.&nbsp;The Saudi-led coalition warned on Saturday that it would back Yemen&#39;s government in any military confrontation with separatist forces and has urged them to withdraw &quot;peacefully&quot; from recently-seized provinces.&nbsp;&quot;At 4:00 am, we received a call to evacuate the port of al-Mukalla a quarter of an hour before the strike,&quot; an official at the Yemeni port told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to the media.&nbsp;&quot;The evacuation completed, and the strike occurred a quarter of an hour later in a dirt area within the port. The fire is still burning,&quot; he said.&nbsp;The coalition targeted two ships carrying &quot;a large quantity of weapons and combat vehicles to support the Southern Transitional Council forces&quot;, the Saudi state news agency SPA reported.&nbsp;&quot;Given the danger and escalation posed by these weapons... the Coalition air forces carried out a limited military operation this morning targeting weapons and combat vehicles that had been unloaded from the two ships at the port of al-Mukalla,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The ships had arrived from the port of Fujairah, on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates, the SPA said, adding that the operation was conducted in accordance with international humanitarian law and that no collateral damage occurred.&nbsp;Aerial footage showing docked boats and a large number of vehicles driving through the port was shared by the SPA.&nbsp;&#39;Sensitive moment&#39;The attack came days after reported Saudi air strikes on separatist positions in Yemen&#39;s Hadramawt province -- and after Washington called for restraint in the rapidly escalating conflict.&nbsp;US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said: &quot;We urge restraint and continued diplomacy, with a view to reaching a lasting solution.&quot;&nbsp;Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman posted Saturday on X that troops from the separatist STC should &quot;peacefully hand over&quot; two regional governorates to the government.&nbsp;&quot;It&#39;s time,&quot; he posted, &quot;at this sensitive moment, to let reason prevail by withdrawing from the two provinces and doing so peacefully.&quot;&nbsp;But the STC had warned on Friday they were undeterred after strikes blamed on Saudi Arabia hit their positions, following their seizure of large swathes of territory in the Hadramawt and Mahrah provinces.&nbsp;Since the takeover, supporters of the separatists have been gathering regularly in cities including Aden to demand they declare independence, with the largest rallies taking place every Friday.&nbsp;On Saturday, hundreds of Yemeni tribesmen gathered in Aden to ask the STC&#39;s leaders to announce the independence of South Yemen, according to the separatist-affiliated Aden Independent Channel.&nbsp;The channel aired footage of a large crowd marching and waving the South Yemen independence flag alongside the UAE&#39;s flag.&nbsp;A Yemeni military official said on Friday that around 15,000 Saudi-backed fighters were massed near the Saudi border but had not been given orders to advance on separatist-held territory.&nbsp;The areas where they were deployed are at the edges of territory seized in recent weeks by the UAE-backed STC.&nbsp;The government is a patchwork of groups that includes the separatists, and is held together by shared opposition to the Iran-backed Houthis.&nbsp;The Houthis pushed the government out of Yemen&#39;s capital Sanaa in 2014 and secured control over most of the north.

Saudi state news agency says two ships arrived from the port of “Fujairah entered the port of Mukalla on Saturday and Sunday, without obtaining official permits from the Joint Forces Command of the Coalition."

Saudi-led coalition targets arms shipments from UAE in Yemen

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia, the main backer of Yemen&#39;s internationally recognized government, said Thursday that Yemeni separatists should return territory seized recently, adding that it seeks to de-escalate tensions within the government camp. The separatist Southern Transitional Council is part of Yemen&#39;s internationally recognised government, a patchwork of groups held together by their opposition to the Iran-backed Houthis,&nbsp; which rule much of the country&#39;s north. This month, the UAE-backed STC, which seeks to revive the formerly independent state of South Yemen, swept through swathes of the country, expelling other government forces and their allies in a move that sparked fears of secession and further instability. &quot;The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia points out that the military movements in the governorates of (Hadramawt and Al-Mahra), recently conducted by the Southern Transitional Council, were carried out unilaterally, and without the approval of the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) nor in coordination with the Coalition&#39;s leadership,&quot; the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. &quot;These movements resulted in an unjustified escalation that harmed the interests of the Yemeni people with all of its segments,&quot; it added. &quot;The Kingdom remains hopeful that the public interest will prevail through ending the escalation by the Southern Transitional Council and the withdrawal of its forces from the two governorate in an urgent and orderly manner,&quot; it added. A Saudi-Emirati military delegation visited Aden for talks earlier this month to ask the STC to return the two provinces it recently seized, the statement said, adding that Saudi efforts for de-escalation were ongoing. A source close to the STC had told AFP at the time that the delegation asked them to withdraw from the newly-seized territory but that the group refused. Yemen&#39;s government and the eight-member PLC that heads it are split between figures backed by the kingdom, and the separatists and their allies, who are backed by the United Arab Emirates. The 11-year war in Yemen has pitted the Iran-backed rebels against the internationally-recognised government, backed by a Saudi-led coalition that includes the UAE.

Tensions rise between rival factions in Yemen's anti-Houthi coalition as Saudi Arabia pushes back against UAE-supported separatists [File: AFP]

Saudi Arabia, the main backer of Yemen's internationally recognized government, said Thursday that Yemeni separatists should return territory seized recently, adding that it seeks to de-escalate tensions within the government camp.

Saudi Arabia urges Yemen separatists to cede seized territory

DOHA: The nearly two-month-old ceasefire in the Gaza Strip will not be complete until Israeli troops withdraw from the Palestinian territory under a peace plan backed by Washington and the UN, mediator Qatar&#39;s prime minister said Saturday.&nbsp;&quot;Now we are at the critical moment ... A ceasefire cannot be completed unless there is a full withdrawal of the Israeli forces, (and) there is stability back in Gaza,&quot; Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani told the Doha Forum, an annual diplomatic conference in the Gulf state&#39;s capital.&nbsp;Qatar, alongside the United States and Egypt, helped secure the long-elusive truce in Gaza, which came into effect on Oct. 10 and has mostly halted two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas.&nbsp;Under a second phase of the deal, which has yet to begin, Israel is to withdraw from its positions in the territory, an interim authority is to take over governance, and an international stabilization force (ISF) is to be deployed.&nbsp;Arab and Muslim nations have been hesitant to participate in the new stabilization force, which could end up fighting Palestinian militants.&nbsp;Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, also speaking at the forum, said talks on the force were ongoing and that critical questions remained about its command structure and which countries would contribute.&nbsp;But its first goal, Fidan said, &quot;should be to separate Palestinians from the Israelis.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;This should be our main objective. Then we can address the other remaining issues,&quot; he added.&nbsp;Hamas is also supposed to disarm under the 20-point plan first outlined by US President Donald Trump, with members who decommission their weapons allowed to leave Gaza. The militant group has repeatedly rejected the proposition.&nbsp;Turkey has indicated it wants to take part in the stabilization force, but its efforts are viewed unfavorably in Israel, which considers Ankara too close to Hamas.&nbsp;&quot;I think the only viable way to finish this war is to engage faithfully and forcefully in peace talks,&quot; Fidan said.&nbsp;Sheikh Mohammed said Qatar and fellow truce guarantors Turkiye, Egypt, and the US were &quot;getting together in order to force the way forward for the next phase&quot; of the deal.&nbsp;&quot;And this next phase is just also temporary from our perspective,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;If we are ... just resolving what happened in the last two years, it&#39;s not enough,&quot; he continued, calling for a &quot;lasting solution that provides justice for both people.&quot;&nbsp;Deployment of stabilization force in Gaza &#39;as soon as possible&#39;Egypt&#39;s Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty on Saturday urged the rapid deployment of an international ceasefire monitoring force under the second phase of a peace deal for the Gaza Strip. &quot;As for the International Stabilization Force, we need to deploy this force as soon as possible on the ground because one party, which is Israel, is every day violating the ceasefire ... so we need monitors,&quot; the minister said. He warned that Egypt&#39;s Rafah crossing into Gaza &quot;is not going to be a gateway for displacement. It&#39;s only for flooding Gaza with humanitarian and medical care.&quot;

Gaza’s ceasefire incomplete without full Israeli withdrawal; urges second phase with a stabilization force; Egypt demands rapid deployment of monitors and rejects Rafah’s use for displacement.

Qatar PM says Gaza truce incomplete without 'full withdrawal' by Israel

Ali Bin Mubarak Al-Khateer

In a world where conflict too often overshadows cooperation, the State of Qatar has pursued a path firmly anchored in the principles of peace, dialogue, and mutual respect. Qatar has earned a global reputation as a neutral and reliable mediator trusted to facilitate dialogue and bring parties together. This is not merely a policy choice of convenience; it is a constitutional commitment. Article 7 of Qatar&rsquo;s Constitution clearly stipulates mediation as a cornerstone of our foreign policy: &ldquo;based on the principle of encouraging peaceful resolution of international disputes.&rdquo; Guided by this principle, Qatar has consistently worked to manage conflicts and foster peaceful settlements, whether at the inter-state level or between states and non-state actors. Since the early 2000s, Qatar has successfully mediated ceasefires, facilitated hostage releases and prisoner exchanges, launched national dialogue processes among other initiatives, contributing to peace facilitation and agreements in many conflicts at both regional and international levels. Nowhere is Qatar&rsquo;s commitment to peace more visible than in its sustained mediation efforts regarding Palestine. Qatar has consistently supported international initiatives to alleviate humanitarian suffering and facilitate dialogue aimed at ceasefires and long-term stability. Qatar&rsquo;s efforts have included humanitarian assistance, reconstruction support, and diplomatic engagement with all relevant actors, always with the goal of protecting civilian lives and advancing the cause of a just and lasting peace.&nbsp; Our efforts are not conducted in isolation. Qatar has built partnerships with leading countries in the field of mediation, including memoranda of understanding with Sweden, Norway, and Finland. These agreements, and others with bilateral partners, enhance knowledge sharing and cooperation, ensuring that best practices inform every negotiation process. For Pakistan, a brotherly nation with whom we share deep historical and cultural ties and a common vision of regional stability, Qatar&rsquo;s mediation efforts hold special significance. Pakistan&rsquo;s own contributions to regional peace reflect its understanding of the challenges of conflict resolution. Together, our two countries can promote dialogue, cooperation, and diplomacy across South Asia, the Middle East, and beyond. Qatar promotes both Track I diplomacy (state-to-state negotiations) and Track II approaches that include civil society, women, refugees, internally displaced persons, and other marginalized groups. This inclusive approach reflects our belief that sustainable peace requires the voices of all stakeholders. Qatar&rsquo;s mediation affirms that peace is not the monopoly of the powerful, but the responsibility of all. Guided by respect for sovereignty and non-interference, Qatar will continue to act as a bridge-builder and engage in mediation only with the consent of all parties. This principle of consent and neutrality is precisely why Qatar has been consistently invited to facilitate some of the world&rsquo;s most complex and sensitive dialogues. At a time when the world is marked by uncertainty, Qatar remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering dialogue and reconciliation. We stand ready, with partners like Pakistan, to demonstrate that peaceful resolution is not only possible but essential for a stable and just global order. The author is the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Qatar's Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani

Articles

Qatar, guided by its Constitution, has built a reputation as a neutral mediator, advancing peace through dialogue, humanitarian action in Palestine, and partnerships with countries like Pakistan to promote regional stability and conflict resolution.

Qatar and international conflict mediation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to launch several strategic and high-impact projects under a new Economic Cooperation Framework aimed at strengthening trade and investment relations. The framework was announced in a joint statement after talks between Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on Tuesday. According to the statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, the framework covers economic, trade, investment, and development projects. These projects are designed to improve cooperation between the governments, increase private sector involvement, and expand bilateral trade. Priority sectors under the framework include energy, industry, mining, information technology, tourism, agriculture, and food security. The two countries are studying several joint projects, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for an electricity interconnection project. It also includes an MoU for cooperation in the energy sector. The statement said the framework extends both nations&#39; efforts to strengthen fraternal ties. They aim to build a sustainable partnership that meets the goals of their leadership and the citizens. The two leaders also look forward to holding a meeting of the Saudi-Pakistani Supreme Coordination Council to advance cooperation further.

As part of an Economic Cooperation Framework, several projects will be discussed in the economic, trade, investment, and development fields that will contribute to strengthening cooperation between the two governments. 

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to launch strategic, high-impact projects 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has invited Qatari investors to explore new avenues of collaboration under the government&#39;s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) framework. Talking to Qatar&#39;s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani in Islamabad on Friday, the prime minister underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation, emphasizing opportunities in energy, agriculture, food security, information technology, tourism and infrastructure development, said a report published by state-run Radio Pakistan. &lsquo;Positive trajectory&rsquo;&nbsp;The prime minister expressed satisfaction at the positive trajectory of Pakistan-Qatar relations, anchored in shared faith, values, and mutual respect. He also appreciated Qatar&#39;s role as an important partner and an influential regional mediator. The prime minister conveyed Pakistan&#39;s deep appreciation for Qatar&#39;s consistent support on regional and global issues and reiterated Pakistan&#39;s desire to strengthen collaboration at regional and multilateral fora. In his remarks, Qatar&#39;s Minister of Commerce and Industry conveyed warm greetings from the Qatari leadership and reaffirmed Qatar&#39;s commitment to further deepen economic engagement with Pakistan. Joint Ministerial Commission&nbsp;Qatar&#39;s Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani is in Pakistan to co-chair the 6th Session of Pakistan-Qatar Joint Ministerial Commission.&nbsp; He noted that the 6th Session of the JMC provided an important platform to review existing cooperation and identify new initiatives to advance mutually beneficial partnerships. Both sides agreed to continue close coordination to translate shared understandings into tangible outcomes, including greater facilitation for business-to-business linkages and investment projects. Earlier, a press release issued by the Press Information Department of Pakistan on Thursday regarding 6th Session of Pak-Qatar JMC For Economic, Trade, and Technical Cooperation, stated: &quot;In the realm of trade, economy, and investment, the signed protocol commits both nations to realizing His Highness the Amir of Qatar&rsquo;s vision of investing USD 3 billion in Pakistan through the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) or other investment vehicles.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;A key focus was strengthening direct engagement between Pakistan&rsquo;s Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) and the QIA to streamline investment processes and create a conducive environment for Qatari investors. The SIFC was highlighted as a pivotal platform to facilitate investments in priority sectors, ensuring seamless coordination and support for Qatari businesses,&quot; it said.&nbsp;Pak, UAE leaders discuss bilateral issues&nbsp;Meanwhile, a statement issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Office of the Spokesperson) on Friday, Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke on the phone late last night with the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. &nbsp; &ldquo;The two leaders discussed bilateral &amp; multilateral issues of mutual interest as well as recent regional &amp; global developments, and agreed to stay closely engaged,&rdquo; it said. Flow of remittances Dar also chaired a meeting to review the flow of remittances from abroad, particularly from Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, said another statement issued by the ministry. He emphasized the need to increase, improve, and facilitate remittance flows through the use of digital technologies, reducing transfer time and minimizing transaction costs to better serve overseas Pakistanis and their families.&nbsp; The meeting was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Tariq Bajwa, the Governor and Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan, and other concerned officials.

Business

Talking to Qatar's Minister of Commerce and Industry Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al-Thani in Islamabad on Friday, Pakistan's prime minister underscored the importance of enhancing bilateral trade and investment cooperation, emphasizing opportunities in energy, agriculture, food security, information technology, tourism and infrastructure development.

Articles tagged with "Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman talks"

Qatar, UAE join Pax Silica alliance on global technology supply chains

Qatar says some personnel departing US base over 'regional tensions': AFP sources

Pakistani FM consults Muslim-majority counterparts on regional stability, diplomacy

Israel attacked six Muslim countries in 2025: Report

Saudi-led coalition targets arms shipments from UAE in Yemen

Saudi Arabia urges Yemen separatists to cede seized territory

Qatar PM says Gaza truce incomplete without 'full withdrawal' by Israel

Qatar and international conflict mediation

Pakistan, Saudi Arabia to launch strategic, high-impact projects

Pakistan invites Qatari investors to explore new avenues of collaboration

Qatar, UAE join Pax Silica alliance on global technology supply chains