Muslim countries need to unite to stop Israeli aggression: Pak PM in Qatar

Islamabad, Sep 11 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday urged Muslim countries to unite against Israeli aggression as he met the Qatari emir and expressed solidarity following Tel Aviv’s recent attacks targeting residential areas in Doha.

Shehbaz Sharif, who travelled to Qatar on a day-long visit, held a “very warm and cordial meeting” with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, according to an official statement.

“Israel’s brazen aggression in the Middle East must be stopped, and the Ummah needed unity among its ranks in the face of Israeli provocations,” Sharif said.

He conveyed Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of the Israeli attack of September 9, calling it a blatant and flagrant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, the statement said.

He said that the “leadership and people of Pakistan were deeply disturbed by this attack against the brotherly State of Qatar, which constituted a serious breach of international law,” the statement added.

Sharif appreciated Qatar’s responsible, constructive and mediatory role in efforts to bring peace in Gaza, and stressed that such acts of Israeli aggression were clearly meant to undermine regional stability and threaten ongoing diplomatic and humanitarian efforts, it added.

While reaffirming the historic, fraternal bonds between Pakistan and Qatar, Sharif stated that the two countries had proudly stood with each other through thick and thin.

It was in this spirit of brotherhood that Pakistan stood shoulder to shoulder with the Emir, the Royal Family of Qatar and with the brotherly people of Qatar during this challenging time, the statement said.

Sharif assured the Qatari leadership of Pakistan’s full solidarity and support in the face of this unjustified provocation.

He also conveyed deep sympathies on the loss of precious lives in this attack by Israel and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

Sharif said that at Qatar’s request, Pakistan had requested an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the recent developments in the Middle East.

He also welcomed Qatar’s decision to host an Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on September 15, and said Pakistan had indicated its willingness to the OIC to co-sponsor and co-convene this Summit.

The Emir thanked the Prime Minister for his thoughtful gesture of visiting Doha to express his solidarity with Qatar at this time, it said.

Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination in promoting regional peace, upholding international law and supporting the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, it added.

This visit reaffirmed the deep-rooted brotherly ties between Pakistan and Qatar and their shared commitment to peace and stability in the region, the statement said.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, according to the Foreign Office (FO).

The visit was “a gesture of solidarity and regional unity, following the recent Israeli cowardly airstrikes targeting residential areas in Doha,” the FO said.

“The visit underscores Pakistan’s unwavering support for the security and sovereignty of Qatar and its commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East,” the FO added.

Pakistan has close ties with Qatar and has already condemned the air strikes by Israel.

It was not clear if the visit was limited to solidarity or if the two sides discussed some possibility of defence cooperation to bolster the security of Qatar.

Earlier, Israel claimed to have targeted the leaders of Hamas in Doha, sparking anger and condemnation from different countries. PTI SH RD ZH RD RD