- FO spokesman says Pakistan believes in unity among Muslim countries
Pakistan has quietly started deliberations to explore ways and means to help ease out tensions between the Arab allies of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
The decision was taken in wake of the recent visit by a six-member Qatari delegation in the backdrop of a Middle Eastern diplomatic crisis, following Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Doha.
The deliberations largely look to be a family affair, as contacts are being made between Sharif family and the Qatar’s ruling family as the ministry of foreign affairs is being sidestepped in the entire process.
Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria told Pakistan Today that he had no official knowledge of the arrival of the Qatari delegation.
The six-member delegation, headed by businessman Abdulhadi Mana Al Hajri, had arrived in Lahore on Wednesday through a chartered flight and reportedly met Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The delegation was to have relayed a message from the Qatari Emir asking Pakistan to play a positive role in resolving the diplomatic crisis engulfing the Middle East.
After a few hours in Lahore, the delegation then flew on to Islamabad, sources said.
Meanwhile, Nafees Zakaria, during a weekly press briefing Thursday, also hinted at the backdoor channeling, saying that Pakistan believes in unity among Muslim countries.
“We have made consistent efforts for its promotion. The situation, therefore, is a matter of concern,” he said and added that the government wishes to see the crisis resolved in the best possible manner.
A diplomatic source informed Pakistan Today that Pakistan enjoyed deep friendly and brotherly relations with Saudi Arabia and Qatar; rather than taking sides in the conflict, it should take measures to help resolve tensions.
“We have received request from Qatar for mediation. However, the decision to play any role in easing out tensions has to be made by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is abroad for the time being,” the official said.
The official said that Pakistan has always vowed to promote friendly relations between the Muslim countries and it would never take any step which could further widen the gulf.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently attending a two-day meeting of the Heads of State Council of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in Kazakhstan, told media that Pakistan would do “all it can” to help resolve the crisis and called on the Muslim world to play a role in ending hostilities.
PAKISTAN TO CONTINUE IMPORT OF LNG FROM QATAR:
Separately, Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi made it clear the air in the wake of the diplomatic crisis that has engulfed Arab countries, saying that its commercial deal of importing LNG from a Qatari company remains unaffected.
The diplomatic boycott of Qatar by several GCC nations prompted speculators to link the cut-off to Pakistan, which enjoys good ties with Saudi Arabia.
Abbasi, however, said that the agreement stands and Pakistan will continue to import LNG.
“It is a commercial contract. Pakistan would continue to import LNG from Qatar,” Abbasi
“Pakistan will continue to import the fuel from Qatargas to meet its energy requirement, as it seeks to end load-shedding in the country,” said the minister.
On the other hand, the National Assembly also unanimously passed a resolution expressing its deep concern over recent developments in relations involving brotherly Muslim states in the Gulf region, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
The house, in a resolution moved by law minister Zahid Hamid, called upon all countries to show restraint and resolve all differences through dialogue.
“This house also calls upon the government to take concrete steps towards forging unity amongst the Muslim Ummah in the religion, in accordance with parliament’s unanimous resolution dates February 2015,” the resolution added.
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