Sharif, Bajwa in Riyadh over Qatar row

Pak PM will hold talks with Saudi leadership on the latest situation in Gulf countries

Radio Pakistan reported Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif would hold talks with the Saudi leadership on the latest situation among the Gulf Co-operation Countries

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday flew to Riyadh to hold talks on the ongoing crisis involving Qatar, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar, advisor to the PM on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz, and senior officials accompanied the Premier.

Radio Pakistan reported that Mr Sharif would hold talks with the Saudi leadership on the latest situation among the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC). It is not clear what plan he would put forward to ease tension which has badly polarised the Arab and Muslim world.

Mr Bajwa is also expected to accompany the Prime Minister, sources said.

Earlier in the day, Mr Sharif summoned a meeting of Pakistan’s top envoys from the Gulf countries to discuss the diplomatic crisis in Middle East.

“Since Pakistan enjoys good relations with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Qatar, we will try our best to resolve the differences between the Arab countries,” Mr Sharif said.

Pakistan shares “good” ties with all Gulf countries

and has been asked by the country’s Parliament to stay neutral in the crisis, while trying to resolve it.

Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE had cut ties with Qatar last week, accusing their former Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) ally of supporting extremist groups.

Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan rejected as “fabricated and baseless” media reports that it planned to deploy its troops in Qatar.

In a statement, foreign office spokesperson Nafees Zakaria rejected reports that appeared in some foreign media over deployment of Pakistani troops in Qatar.

Mr Zakaria stressed that the “false reports appear to be part of a malicious campaign aimed at creating misunderstanding between Pakistan and brotherly Muslim countries in the Gulf.”

Mr Sharif may also visit Qatar and the UAE after talks with the Saudi officials.