President Asif Ali Zardari Proposes Enhanced Defence and Economic Cooperation with Qatar during his meeting with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in Doha, where both leaders agreed to strengthen bilateral relations across multiple sectors. The Pakistani president put forward proposals for deeper collaboration in defence, defence production, agriculture, and food security—initiatives warmly welcomed by the Qatari leadership.
According to official reports, the Emir of Qatar appreciated the proposals and directed relevant authorities to establish immediate contact with their Pakistani counterparts. Sheikh Tamim described the recent defence agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia as a “positive and timely development,” reinforcing the shared vision for regional stability and cooperation.
President Zardari was accompanied by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Pakistan’s ambassador to Qatar. He conveyed greetings from the government and people of Pakistan while commending Qatar’s remarkable progress under Sheikh Tamim’s leadership. The Qatari Emir, in turn, praised the Pakistani community for their contribution to Qatar’s development and expressed his intention to increase their participation in the country’s workforce.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the long-standing brotherly relationship between Pakistan and Qatar. Sheikh Tamim highlighted Pakistan’s unique diplomatic position of maintaining strong ties with China, the West, and Gulf nations, and expressed optimism about Pakistan’s efforts to resolve its issues with Afghanistan.
President Zardari lauded Qatar’s constructive role in hosting the Doha peace talks on Afghanistan and invited the Emir to visit Pakistan, an invitation Sheikh Tamim graciously accepted, confirming plans for an official visit early next year.
Earlier, President Zardari also met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on the sidelines of the Second Global Conference on Social Development in Doha. During the meeting, he described Pakistan and China as “iron brothers” and reaffirmed the strength of their all-weather strategic partnership. He thanked China for its unwavering support during challenging times and praised the successful implementation of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a cornerstone of Pakistan’s foreign policy.