Doha: Pakistani Foreign Minister, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, has said that dialogue with the Taliban is the only way forward to resolve conflict in Afghanistan and Qatar can play an important role in this regard by facilitating the dialogue process.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi (pictured) said that there was a similarity in approach of Qatar and Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan regarding handling Afghanistan issue. “PM Imran Khan has been saying for years that there is no military solution to Afghanistan problem and reconciliation and dialogue is the only way forward. Qatar has also been working on these grounds for years,” Qureshi said in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula during Imran Khan’s visit to Doha last week.
He said that Qatar allowed the Taliban to open their political office in the country at the time when the world was not ready for dialogue with the Taliban. “Imran Khan was also dubbed as ‘Taliban Khan’ for his stance of resolving Afghanistan conflict by dialogue with the Taliban,” he said.
He said that both Qatar and Imran Khan faced a lot of criticism for advocating dialogue with the Taliban to resolve conflict in Afghanistan. “Today the whole world has endorsed the stance of Qatar and Imran Khan that the issue will be resolved through negotiations,” he added.
Qureshi said: “Qatar can play an important role in resolving Afghanistan crisis by facilitating talks with the Taliban. Talks between the Taliban and the US are underway and we hope for the best out of it,” he said while commenting on US-Taliban talks in Doha.
On Gulf crisis, the Foreign Minister lauded Qatar’s management of the crisis. “Qatar has shown maturity and sagacity in handling the crisis.”
He said that despite current strained relations with the neighbouring GCC countries, Qatar had exercised restraint and was even continuing gas supplies to the UAE. “Forty percent electricity of the UAE is produced with Qatari gas but Qatar has not discontinued the supply of gas despite the crisis. It shows deep thinking and farsightedness of Qatar’s leadership." He said that Pakistan enjoyed brotherly relations with all GCC countries, therefore, wanted and trying to get the issue resolved amicably.
“We want to get differences resolved between brothers amicably,” he said.
Qureshi said that Pakistan was more than happy to facilitate GCC countries to resolve their differences and had expressed the same desire to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. He said that people of Gulf were like one nation intertwined together through bonds of mutual tribes and relations. “This temporary strain in relations between brothers will pass soon.”
He said that Pakistan’s efforts to resolve Gulf crisis were underway as Pakistan always wished to see peace and stability in the region. Shah Mehmood Qureshi also said that Prime Minister had extended invitation to Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to visit Pakistan which had been accepted and H H the Amir would visit Pakistan after mutually agreed schedule.
He said that Pakistani delegation led by Prime Minister Imran Khan had very good discussions with leadership of Qatar at the highest level. “Our talks with Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and other officials were very productive,” he said.
Qureshi said that Pakistani delegation saw enthusiasm from Qatari side and Qatar’s interest in Pakistan had increased.
An area, he said, where Qatar and Pakistan could cooperate was agriculture sector. “After the blockade, food security has become Qatar’s priority and in this sector both countries can start new ventures,” he added.
He said that due to geographic proximity of both countries; favourable climate, fertile lands and availability of manpower in Pakistan; Qatar could invest in agricultural sector of the country.
“Pakistan has a lot of potential in this regard. It is a win-win situation for Pakistan and Qatar. Qatar has resources to invest and by doing so they will ensure food security for Qatar as well can export food products to Arab and other countries,” Qureshi added.
He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan also discussed Pakistan’s potential of providing workforce to Qatar for 2022 World Cup projects. “Pakistan has manpower of skilled and unskilled workers. Qatar has recently opened two visa centers in Islamabad and Karachi which are doing well. We hope that Pakistan will meet target of sending earlier announced 100,000 workers to Qatar in 2019,” he said, adding that Qatar might hire more workers from Pakistan once Pakistan succeeded in meeting existing target of 100,000 workers.
To a question, the Foreign Minister said that Advisor to Pakistan’s Prime Minister on Commerce, Abdul Razak Dawood would pay another visit to Qatar soon to present investment proposals to Qatari authorities.
“A Qatari businessmen and officials delegation will also visit Pakistan to move things forward,” he added.
The Foreign Minister said that Pakistan was facing temporary economic challenges for which it was seeking support of friends of Pakistan. “Among other things, Qatar can help us in negotiating deal with IMF as well,” he added.
