Pakistan FM Qureshi visits Qatar to discuss Afghan reconciliation process
What's the story
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi today traveled to Qatar, where he is expected to discuss the Afghan reconciliation process and issues of mutual interests with the top officials of the Gulf country.
Officials in Islamabad said that Qureshi was received by top officials of the Qatari Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Pakistan Embassy at the Doha airport.
Here are more details.
Details
Qureshi to hold meetings with Qatari PM, Vice PM
During his day-long trip, Qureshi will hold meetings with top Qatari leadership, including the Prime Minister and Vice PM, Pakistan radio reported.
Diplomatic sources said that the Afghan reconciliation process will be prominent during his talks with the Qatari leaders.
Qatar has been hosting the Taliban's political office since 2012, which makes Doha a key-player in any move to bring peace in war-torn Afghanistan.
Information
Qureshi said Qatar Foreign Minister wanted him to visit Doha
In a video shared by the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf party on Twitter, Qureshi spoke about the relationship between Pakistan and Qatar, where a large Pakistani community resides. He added that he had previously met Qatar's Foreign Minister, who wanted him to visit Doha.
Twitter Post
Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf shares video of Qureshi's visit on Twitter
Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi Short Talk before leaving for a One Day Official visit to Qatar (29.12.18)#PTI @SMQureshiPTI
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 29, 2018
He will hold bilateral talks with top leadership of Qatar including Prime Minister and Vice PM and also discuss Afghan peace process, pic.twitter.com/WJoY1Wsz0R
Doha's importance
Doha played a role in peace and reconciliation process: Qureshi
On the Afghan peace process, Qureshi said Pakistan had decided on "regional outreach" and on taking important allies into confidence, as well as exchanging views with them about the regional situation and the Afghan issue.
He said that Doha had played a role in the peace and reconciliation process in the past and it was, therefore, important to get their opinion on the matter.