Pakistan, Saudi Arabia Condemn Israeli Strike on Qatar, Call It a Plot to Undermine Middle East Peace

Doha — Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met on the sidelines of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, denouncing Israel’s recent strike on Qatar as a conspiracy to derail the Middle East peace process.

According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, the meeting was attended by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief General Asim Munir. Both leaders stressed that the attack on Qatar represented an attempt to sabotage ongoing peace efforts in the region.

Sharif praised the Saudi crown prince’s “courageous and visionary leadership” and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening historic bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia. He also thanked Riyadh for its consistent support to Pakistan in difficult times, adding that Islamabad would extend full diplomatic backing to Saudi Arabia at the United Nations, the OIC, and other international forums.

“The Doha summit has sent a clear message that the Muslim Ummah stands united against Israeli aggression,” Sharif said.

For his part, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman welcomed Sharif’s upcoming visit to Riyadh, noting it would provide an opportunity for comprehensive consultations on regional and global issues. He also lauded Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to show solidarity with Qatar in the wake of the Israeli strike.