DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha on Thursday as part of his three-nation visit aimed at intensifying Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach and promoting peace in the Middle East.
His arrival marked the second leg of his April 15–18 tour, following his visit to Saudi Arabia, as Pakistan steps up engagement with key regional partners amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.
The premier was received at the airport by Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi, while a contingent of the Qatari Armed Forces presented a guard of honour. Pakistani flags were also displayed at the airport and across parts of the city to mark the occasion.
During the visit, PM Shehbaz held a meeting with Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which he described as warm and cordial.
He thanked the Qatari leadership for sending fighter jets to escort his aircraft upon entering Qatari airspace, calling it a reflection of strong bilateral ties and hospitality.
The two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation, particularly in the Gulf, and emphasised the need for de-escalation, dialogue and coordinated international efforts to maintain peace and stability.
The prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s condemnation of attacks targeting Qatar and other regional countries, expressing solidarity with the Qatari people.
Both sides reviewed longstanding relations and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in key sectors including security, defence and energy.
The prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Special Assistant Syed Tariq Fatemi and spokesperson for international media Mosharraf Zaidi.
Following his visit to Qatar, PM Shehbaz will travel to Turkiye, where he will participate in the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and present Pakistan’s perspective on key global issues.
The visit comes as Islamabad has gained global attention for hosting talks between the United States and Iran, aimed at ending weeks of conflict.
The recent talks, which lasted around 21 hours, were the first direct engagement between Washington and Tehran in more than a decade and the highest-level contact since the Iranian Revolution. Despite extensive discussions, no formal agreement was reached.
A second round of negotiations is expected in Islamabad before the ceasefire expires, with Donald Trump indicating that talks could resume within days.
