ISLAMABAD: Presid­ent Asif Ali Zardari met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tam­im bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday and offered to expand bilateral cooperation in the areas of defence and defence production betw­een Pakistan and Qatar, a statement issued by the President’s Secre­tariat said.

According to the statement, the Qatari emir “responded positively” to the offer and said he would instruct the relevant authorities to initiate discussions with Pakistan in this regard immediately.

The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the Second World Sum­mit for Social Develop­ment, which is being held in Qatari capital Doha from Nov 4 to 6. President Zardari is representing Pakistan at the moot.

The statement read that the Qatari leader also “ex­p­r­essed satisfaction at the recent Pakistan-Saudi Ara­bia defence agreement”.

“It was a welcome and timely step that should have happened earlier,” the statement quoted Mr Al-Thani as saying. He also noted Pakistan’s “unique position as a country maintaining strategic ties with China, the West and the Gulf states at the same time”.

On the matter of recent clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Qatari emir expressed hope that the two neighbouring countries “would resolve their current issues and move beyond recent challenges”.

According to the statement, Mr Al-Thani told Mr Zardari that “Qatar is proud of Pakistan and its achievements, and deeply values the contribution of the Pakistani community to Qatar’s development”.

He also lauded Qatar’s growing global role as a “centre of dialogue and humanitarian diplomacy and paid tribute to its leadership in advocating a ceasefire and humanitarian relief for the people of Gaza”.

The president welcomed enhanced Qatari investment in Pakistan and expressed confidence that bilateral collaboration would continue to grow between the two countries under the Qatari emir’s leadership, the statement said.

The president later met Qatari Defence Minister Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani and underscored the close and historic ties between their two countries, particularly in the field of defence and security cooperation.

“He expressed satisfaction over the existing collaboration between the armed forces of the two countries in training, capacity building and defence production.

Earlier, the president also met Chinese Vice President Han Zheng, who appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and promoting regional peace and stability.

Han appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in combating terrorism and promoting regional peace and stability” and reaffirmed the “enduring strength of the Pakistan-China friendship”.

He stressed that China would “continue to support Pakistan’s economic development under the second phase of CPEC”, particularly in transport and infrastructure, IT and agriculture.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2025