Nawaz Sharif meets Qatari Foreign Minister

Islamabad, July 18 (IANS) Qatari Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who arrived in Pakistan on an unannounced visit on Tuesday, discussed the current tensions in the Middle East with Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif.

The Prime Minister's office in Islamabad said in a statement that Sheikh Mohammed briefed Nawaz Sharif on Qatar's response to the demands of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt and on the current status of the mediation efforts of the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The Prime Minister appreciated the sagacity and wisdom of the Emir of Kuwait and said Pakistan supports his sincere efforts in finding a solution to the current crises in the Gulf region," the statement said.

Noting the brotherly relations between Pakistan and Qatar, Sharif stressed that Pakistan maintains close, friendly and cooperative relations with all Gulf Cooperation Council countries and is concerned over the recent crisis in the Middle East.

"The people and government of Pakistan wish to see a diplomatic solution of the problem between brotherly Islamic countries," the statement quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

The Qatari Foreign Minister expressed his gratitude to Sharif for the warm reception and reiterated Qatar's desire to further enhance bilateral relations between the two countries, the statement said.

Sheikh Mohammed is the first high level Qatari official to visit Pakistan since Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen and the Maldives cut diplomatic relations with Qatar on June 5.

Pakistan had adopted a neutral stance during the tensions between Qatar and several Arab countries.