Pakistan, Qatar agree to deepen police cooperation, Doha to help build firing range in Islamabad

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi meets Qatari counterpart Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (right) in Doha, Qatar, on November 24, 2025. (X/@MohsinnaqviC42)
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Updated 24 November 2025
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Pakistan, Qatar agree to deepen police cooperation, Doha to help build firing range in Islamabad

  • Pakistan’s Interior Minister meets Qatari counterpart Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha
  • Pakistan undertakes measures to strengthen police forces as it reels from surging militant attacks across country

ISLAMABAD: Senior officials from Pakistan and Qatar agreed to enhance cooperation between their law enforcement agencies while Doha will help build a state-of-the-art firing range at a police academy in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday. 

The development took place when Naqvi met Qatar’s Interior Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha. The two officials held talks on regional and bilateral matters, including enhanced cooperation between their law enforcement agencies, joint efforts to curb drug trafficking and strengthening coastal guard coordination, the Pakistani minister said. 

“I am grateful to Minister Al-Nuaimi for his commitment for helping in establishing a state-of-the-art firing range for the National Police Academy in Islamabad,” Naqvi wrote on social media platform X. 

“We look forward to welcoming him to Pakistan very soon.”

Pakistan enjoys cordial relations with Qatar and cooperates with the country in several sectors such as defense, economic, trade and others. Pakistan and Qatar have recently sought to expand their defense ties after Islamabad entered into a historic strategic defense agreement with Saudi Arabia in September. 

Pakistan has been eyeing measures to enhance the capability and effectiveness of its police force as it grapples with a rise in militant attacks in its northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and southwestern Balochistan provinces bordering Afghanistan. 

Three paramilitary forces personnel were killed on Monday morning when three suicide bombers attacked the Federal Constabulary (FC) force’s headquarters in Peshawar. Police said security forces had foiled the attack by killing all three suicide bombers, who had managed to wound 11 others in the attack.


Pakistan to play India in T20 World Cup, government says

Updated 09 February 2026
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Pakistan to play India in T20 World Cup, government says

  • Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the ICC’s exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup
  • Pakistan’s government says the decision to play India is taken to protect ‘spirit of cricket and to support the continuity of global sport’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has cleared the country’s cricket team to play India in the T20 World Cup on Feb. 15, the Pakistani government announced late Monday, ending a week-long standoff.

Islamabad announced boycotting the Feb. 15 match in Colombo to protest the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) exclusion of Bangladesh from the T20 World Cup, following Dhaka’s decision to not play matches in India owing to security fears.

On Sunday, ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khwaja arrived in Lahore for talks with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) President Aminul Islam as the sport’s governing body strived to save the high-stakes T20 World Cup encounter.

PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi met PM Sharif late Monday and briefed him regarding the outcomes of high-level deliberations held between the PCB, Bangladesh board and ICC representatives, the Pakistani government said on X.

“The Government of Pakistan has reviewed the formal requests extended to the PCB by the Bangladesh Cricket Board, as well as the supporting communications from Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, and other member nations. These correspondences sought Pakistan’s leadership in securing a viable solution to recent challenges,” the Pakistani government said.

“In view of the outcomes achieved in multilateral discussions, as well as the request of friendly countries, the Government of Pakistan hereby directs the Pakistan National Cricket Team to take the field on February 15, 2026, for its scheduled fixture in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.”

The BCB earlier thanked the PCB, ICC and all others for their positive roles in trying to “overcome recent challenges,” particularly thanking PCB Chairman Naqvi and Pakistani cricket fans for demonstrating “exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity.”

“We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish,” BCB President Islam said in a statement.

“Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem.”

The dispute stemmed from the ICC’s decision to replace Bangladesh with Scotland last month after Bangladesh refused to play tournament matches in India. Dhaka’s decision followed the removal of Mustafizur Rahman from the Indian Premier League (IPL). He was bought for $1 million by the IPL’s Kolkata Knight Riders, but on Jan. 3 the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) ordered Kolkata to release Mustafizur without a public explanation but amid regional tensions.

Pakistani cricket authorities subsequently announced boycotting the match against India at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Feb. 15. An India-Pakistan fixture is the sport’s most lucrative asset, generating a massive share of global broadcasting and sponsorship revenue.

“This decision [to play India in T20 World Cup] has been taken with the aim of protecting the spirit of cricket, and to support the continuity of this global sport in all participating nations,” the Pakistani government said.

“We remain confident that our team will carry the spirit of sportsmanship and national pride onto the field as they compete for global glory.”