Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Doha on 11 September for a day-long visit, expressing solidarity with the Qatari leadership after Israel launched a rare and deadly strike on the Gulf nation earlier this week. The visit, described as urgent, comes as Qatar and other Arab states weigh a collective regional response to the attack.
Before departing from Islamabad, the Prime Minister’s Office stated that Sharif’s consultations with Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani are about to focus on Israel’s “unjustified aggression” and on broader discussions for peace and stability in the region.
The urgency of the visit follows statements by Qatar’s Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who condemned the strike as “state terror” and revealed that Gulf and Arab leaders were preparing for an Arab-Islamic summit in Doha to decide a joint course of action.
Pakistan, which has consistently raised voices for Palestinian rights on various forums, strongly condemned the attack, reiterating its call for respect of international law and sovereignty of nations.
In a powerful show of unity, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman vowed that Riyadh would stand “without limits” by Qatar, pledging all possible support.
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The Israeli raid, carried out on Tuesday, killed at least six people, including a 22-year-old Qatari security guard. Israel claimed the target was Hamas leaders based in Doha, but the group later ratified its negotiators survived. The attack is marking the first direct Israeli strike on a Gulf state, raising fears of escalating instability in the region.
Qatar has long played a major role as a mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, often working in coordination with Washington and Cairo. Analysts now warn that the strike could threaten Doha’s ability—or willingness—to continue this delicate role.
For Pakistan, Sharif’s visit is not just symbolic solidarity but also considered to be the integral component of a wider effort to stand with Gulf allies at a time of heightened regional tension.
With over 64,600 people killed in Gaza since Israel’s offensive began in October 2023, leaders in Doha and Islamabad stress that finding a path to peace is more urgent than ever.