FM Qureshi discusses Afghan peace, bilateral ties on day-long Qatar visit

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday met his Qatari counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al Thani, and other top leadership during a day-long official visit to the country.

The foreign ministers exchanged their views on the ongoing efforts for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan, bilateral relations and other important regional and global issues.

Lauding the diligence of Pakistani expats working in Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman al Thani said the Qatari government would soon take initiatives to provide more employment opportunities to Pakistanis. 

The Qatari minister also praised Pakistan's efforts for peace in Afghanistan and the region. 

During the meeting, Qureshi assured his counterpart of cooperation on all levels as Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. 

The dignitaries also agreed on boosting trade ties between the two countries. 

Qureshi also called on Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani. 

Qureshi was earlier received at the airport by top officials of the Qatar Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Pakistan in Doha. 

Speaking to media before departing for Qatar, Qureshi said that Pakistan enjoys close relations with Qatar and it is an important country in the Middle-East.

He added that there is a large Pakistani community in Qatar and there are many investment opportunities in the country. "We will further build on our previously held talks," the foreign minister said.

On December 23, Qureshi embarked on a whirlwind four-nation tour. During the first leg of his trip, he visited Kabul where he met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani. After Afghanistan, Qureshi visited Tehran where he met his counterpart Javed Zarif and other top officials of the Iranian Foreign Ministry and discussed strengthening cooperation and bilateral relations.

In the third leg of this tour, Qureshi met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. He then held a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on his trip to Moscow, his last stop on the tour.