Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visit to Qatar began on Thursday as he left for Doha with a high-level delegation to show Pakistan’s solidarity after Israel carried out airstrikes on residential areas in the Qatari capital.
According to the Foreign Office, the prime minister is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The trip is being described as a strong gesture of friendship and support for Qatar’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.
During the Shehbaz Sharif visit to Qatar, the Pakistani leader will hold a meeting with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He is expected to convey Pakistan’s sympathies and assure full support for the Qatari leadership and its people in this difficult time.
The Israeli strike on Doha targeted Hamas officials and left at least seven people dead. The attack has drawn sharp criticism across the Arab world and beyond.
Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani condemned the assault, calling it reckless and dangerous. He warned that the strike had put the security of the entire Gulf region at risk.
Speaking to reporters, Sheikh Mohammed said a collective response from the region was under consultation. “There is a response that will happen from the region. This response is currently under discussion with other partners,” he added.
He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of dragging the region into “chaos.”
The Shehbaz Sharif visit to Qatar comes at a time of rising tension in the Middle East, with Pakistan openly standing by Doha. It reflects Islamabad’s determination to support its allies against threats to peace and stability in the region.