ISLAMABAD - Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar has emphasised the need for urgent steps to promote all-inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan on a sustainable basis.
Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar held bilateral consultations with top leadership of the State of Qatar including Amir of Qatar, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani in Doha , said Pakistan fully supported the Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process and had taken major steps to facilitate the process. Sources in the Foreign Office say that Hina who is currently on a two-day official visit to Qatar also briefed the Qatari leadership about the steps Pakistan has taken so far to facilitate the Afghan reconciliation process.
"Only an all-inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue would ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan on a sustainable basis", she noted while talking to her Qatari counterpart. Prime Minister of Qatar Hamad bin Jassim Al Thani while talking to the Foreign Minister said that there was a strategic convergence of views between Pakistan and Qatar on various regional and international issues including peace and stability in Afghanistan.
He also said that the economic prosperity and stability of Pakistan was very important to Qatar and assured the Foreign Minister the full support of his govt in this regard. He also appreciated the role Pakistan was playing to facilitate the reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
While discussing the bilateral relations, Hina that Pakistan attached immense importance to its special relations with Qatar and that it was keen to further strengthen and diversify these relations in all fields.
She underlined the need to build a mutually beneficial economic and trade relations between the two countries and invited Qatar's investment in the energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors.
The Foreign Minister also urged the Government of Qatar to hire more Pakistani workers ,adding, that the 90,000 strong Pakistani community was playing an important role in the development of the fast growing State of Qatar.
Hina also called on the Amir of Qatar, His Highness Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and conveyed the greetings and best wishes of the President and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan attached high importance to the regional and strategic position of Qatar in the Middle East and appreciated the leading role it was playing in the Muslim world today.
The Amir expressed satisfaction over the current state of bilateral relations between the two countries and assured Qatar's full support to Pakistan's efforts in facilitating peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.
He also appreciated the role of Pakistani community in Qatar and assured the Foreign Minister that his Government would seriously look into the possibility of hiring more Pakistani workers.
He also assured the Foreign Minister that Qatar would continue to support Pakistan's desire to have a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the GCC countries.
Hina also held a detailed meeting with the Minister for Energy and Industry, Dr Muhammad bin Saleh Al Sada and discussed various projects with a view to enhance cooperation in the energy sector.