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Qatar discusses greater cooperation with Iran, Pakistan

September 19, 2017 at 3:02 pm

Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani (C) is seen during 34th meeting of Arab Interior Ministers Council in Tunis, Tunisia on 5 April, 2017 [Yassine Gaidi/Anadolu Agency]

Qatar’s Prime Minister, Abdullah Bin Nasser Al Thani, yesterday discussed boosting cooperation between Doha and Iran and Pakistan with the ambassadors of both countries, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

Mohammed Javad Asayish and Shahzad Ahmad met with the Qatari official to discuss areas of common interest including enhancing trilateral cooperation.

On 26 August, Qatar decided to return its ambassador to Iran 18 months after he quitted the country following angry demonstrations were held at Saudi Arabia’s missions in Iran after the Kingdom executed Shia Muslim cleric Nimr Al-Nimr.

Pakistan has been supporting Qatar through direct shipping services since Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt imposed restrictions on the Gulf states. Iran, for its part, has allowed Qatar’s national carrier to use its airspace and sent five aircrafts carrying fresh food supplies to Doha after the Saudi-led blockade.

Read: Qatar announces 13 new shipping lines

On 5 June, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar accusing it of “supporting terrorism”. Qatar denies the charges.

The countries then imposed an air, sea and land blockade on Doha, cutting transport and trade ties with Qatar.

Read: Pakistan to remain neutral in Qatar-Saudi standoff