Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani will discuss peace efforts for Afghanistan with Qatar’s leadership during an official visit next week, an official said on Saturday.
“Yes the reconciliation process in Afghanistan would come under discussion during the talks with Qatar’s leadership,” a senior government official told AFP.
The Foreign Office was not immediately available for comment. Gilani will leave for Qatar on Monday for a three-day official visit from February 6-8 aimed at strengthening ties with the Gulf state in multiple areas. The prime minister will hold talks with Qatar’s emir and prime minister to promote trade and investment ties to add substance to bilateral relations. Gilani will discuss with the Qatari leadership the issue of import of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and also finalisation of transnational formalities to import LNG at the earliest.
During Gilani’s visit, the two governments are likely to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) and Qatar’s Ministry of Energy.
He would take up the matter of absorbing Pakistani skilled labour in Qatar.
Meanwhile, Gilani called on President Asif Ali Zardari at the Presidency on Saturday and discussed a host of issues, including his forthcoming visit to Qatar. The two also discussed facilitation in the Afghan peace process, Gilani’s appearance in the Supreme Court in the contempt case, the forthcoming Senate elections and seat adjustment with allied parties and important legislation in parliament.
A source told Pakistan Today that the two leaders also discussed in detail Islamabad’s facilitating role in Afghan peace process. “Both leaders also agreed that parliament’s joint session would also be called in mid-February to debate the recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on National Security following the National Assembly session,” the source said.
He said the PPP leadership also weighed legal and political options regarding the hearing of the contempt case against the prime minister.