ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha on Wednesday, offering to expand Islamabad’s defense collaboration and defense production with the Gulf country, a statement from Zardari’s office said. 

Zardari’s meeting with the Qatari emir took place on the sidelines of the ongoing Second World Summit for Social Development in Doha. The three-day summit from Nov. 4-6, organized under the auspices of the United Nations General Assembly, brings together world leaders and policymakers to discuss strategies for advancing social development, promoting decent work, and strengthening inclusive safety nets. 

Islamabad has eyed greater defense ties and collaboration with regional allies, especially after Pakistan entered into a landmark strategic defense pact with Saudi Arabia in September. Both sides signed the agreement that entails that aggression against any one of them would be considered an attack on both.

“The President offered to expand collaboration in defense and defense production, to which the emir responded positively, saying he would instruct the relevant authorities to initiate discussions with Pakistan immediately,” the president’s secretariat said. 

Sheikh Tamim expressed satisfaction at the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense pact, describing it as a “welcome and timely step that should have happened earlier,” Zardari’s office said. 

Both leaders also discussed ways to increase cooperation in cultural, political and economic spheres, the statement said. 

Zardari lauded Qatar’s growing global role as a “center of dialogue and humanitarian diplomacy,” paying tribute to the emir for his role in advocating for the Gaza ceasefire. 

“Reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity, he recalled Pakistan’s strong condemnation of Israel’s aggression against Qatar and its continued diplomatic support for Qatar’s sovereignty at international fora,” the statement said. 

Zardari invited Sheikh Tamim to visit Pakistan, reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to further strengthening its partnership with Qatar for regional peace and prosperity. 

“The emir accepted the invitation and informed the president that he would visit Pakistan early next year,” the statement said. 

Like other Gulf nations, Pakistan shares cordial ties with Qatar that are rooted in economic cooperation, defense, shared values, faith and culture. 

Qatar hosts a large Pakistani workforce, many of whom send remittances that Islamabad considers a lifeline for its cash-strapped economy.