ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani on Sunday reaffirmed their shared commitment to supporting constructive dialogue and ongoing peace efforts across the Middle East.
In a post shared on X, PM Shehbaz said he was “delighted to receive a telephone call from my brother” earlier in the day, during which the two leaders discussed the evolving regional situation.
“We exchanged views on the evolving regional situation and reaffirmed our shared commitment to support all ongoing efforts aimed at promoting lasting peace, stability, and constructive dialogue across the region,” the premier wrote.
The prime minister also expressed gratitude to Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for Qatar’s continued support for Pakistan’s diplomatic initiatives.
“I conveyed my sincere appreciation to my dear brother, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, for his wise leadership and for Qatar’s continued support for Pakistan’s sincere efforts to advance regional peace and stability through dialogue and diplomacy,” PM Shehbaz added.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders reviewed the progress of ongoing peace efforts in the region and stressed the importance of constructive engagement among all parties to ensure successful negotiations.
The PMO noted that both countries highlighted the deep brotherly ties between Pakistan and Qatar and agreed that the Qatari emir’s upcoming visit would help further strengthen and expand bilateral cooperation.
Qatar’s foreign ministry said Sheikh Mohammed reaffirmed Doha’s “full support for the Pakistani mediation efforts aimed at ending the crisis through peaceful means”.
He also emphasised the need for all sides to respond positively to diplomatic initiatives in order to create favourable conditions for negotiations and achieve a comprehensive agreement leading to sustainable peace in the region.
The conversation marked the second telephone contact this week between PM Shehbaz and Sheikh Mohammed and came shortly after the Qatari premier’s meetings in the United States with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff.
Rubio said discussions included US support for Qatar’s defence, while Qatar’s foreign ministry stated that Pakistan’s mediation efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the region were also discussed during the meetings.
Meanwhile, Iran has continued to question the seriousness of American diplomacy while delaying its response to Washington’s latest proposals intended to end more than two months of fighting and open formal peace talks.
Pakistan initially entered the diplomatic process as a facilitator after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, triggering a conflict that led to a global fuel crisis.
Later, both the White House and Tehran recognised Pakistan as the sole mediator between the two sides.
The first round of direct US-Iran talks was held in Islamabad on April 11 and 12 under Pakistan’s mediation. Although the negotiations concluded without a breakthrough agreement, they also avoided collapse, while a Pakistan-brokered ceasefire was subsequently extended indefinitely by US President Donald Trump.
Despite continued efforts by Pakistan’s leadership to bring Washington and Tehran back to the negotiating table, major disagreements between the two sides remain unresolved.