Doha – Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif paid a one-day emergency visit to the capital of Qatar, Doha, to participate in the Arab-Islamic Summit.
The summit, where leaders of more than 50 Muslim countries joined together, was held after a recent Israeli attack on Qatar, and it was with the view of developing a concerted action in response to the growing situation in the region.
Qatar Minister of Culture, His Excellency Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, welcomed the Prime Minister.
In his speech at the summit, Prime Minister Sharif made it clear that Pakistan supports Qatar entirely and denounced the attack by Israel as a blatant aggression and violation of international law.
He claimed that the attack was part of the aggressive activities of Israel, which have seriously derailed peace processes in the region.
High-Level Meetings with Key Leaders
As part of his short but impactful trip, Prime Minister Sharif participated in a series of key bilateral meetings with a number of heads of state and government.
Meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
The Prime Minister held individual talks with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
In these talks, he expressed the firm position of the Pakistanis about the Israeli aggression and the dire necessity to join together and speak up on the international scene by the Muslim Ummah.
He also praised the leadership of the Crown Prince, saying that the role of Saudi Arabia will be instrumental in bringing the Muslim world together at this critical crossroad.
The two leaders decided to continue to broaden the historical and brotherly ties of their countries.
Discussions with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Emir of Qatar
Prime Minister Sharif also had a meeting with the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, who received him warmly. Both leaders denounced the Israeli aggression and reinstated the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
During his visit to the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Prime Minister declared his complete support and called the attack on the Qatari capital an irresponsible act that endangered the peace of the region.
Meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordanian King Abdullah II
During a visit to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the Prime Minister acknowledged the active diplomacy of Egypt and said that the Doha Summit represents the unity of the Muslim Ummah. The two leaders had a mutual agreement to further improve bilateral relations in trade, investment, and health.
The Prime Minister separately met with the Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and praised his continued assistance on the Palestinian cause.
The two leaders came to an agreement that the Muslim world needs to come together and appeal to the international community so as to bring peace and stability.
Prime Minister’s Address to the Summit
Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif stated, “We have come together in the context of an important and regrettable incident. Israel has violated the sovereignty and security of our brotherly country Qatar.”
He criticized Israel for ignoring international laws and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, calling to provide urgent help to the civilian population. He also challenged the hypocrisy of Israel, which claimed to be having peace talks and yet was involved in aggressive activity.
“History will not forgive us if we do not take steps with collective wisdom,” he warned, urging a unified and decisive response from the Muslim world.
Prime Minister Sharif returned home after his visit. Qatar Minister of Culture, Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, was present at Doha Airport to see him off.
