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Qatar calls for calm between Pakistan, India

March 3, 2019 at 2:40 pm

Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani on 7 September 2018 [Abdülhamid Hoşbaş/Anadolu Agency]

The emir of Qatar calls for calm between Pakistan and India during a telephone call with Pakistani prime minister on Saturday.

The conflicts must be resolved through dialogue, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said during the conversation with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, according to the Qatari News Agency (QNA).

Al Thani and Khan discussed bilateral relations as well as tension between India and Pakistan and regional issues.

Tension between the two nuclear armed-neighbors escalated following a suicide bombing in Indian-administered Kashmir in mid-February that left more than 40 Indian troops dead.

READ: UAE, Bahrain suspend flights to Pakistan 

On Wednesday, an Indian pilot was held in Pakistan after his aircraft was downed in a dogfight with Pakistani jets along the disputed border with Kashmir.

After Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced his release in a widely hailed gesture of goodwill, the pilot was handed over to Indian authorities by Pakistan on Friday.

Both India and Pakistan have significant defence budgets, with India boasting 1.4 million military personnel versus Pakistan’s 654,000 personnel. Pakistan however weilds more nuclear warsheads than it’s neighbour, holding 145 nuclear warheads, comapred to India’s 135.

Infographic by Anadolu Agency looking at the military balance between India and Pakistan, dated February 28, 2019 ( Kenan Kaplan - Anadolu Agency )

Infographic by Anadolu Agency looking at the military balance between India and Pakistan, dated February 28, 2019 ( Kenan Kaplan – Anadolu Agency )