Arab leaders discuss Qatar dispute in Pakistan

CAIRO – 29 June 2017: High-level diplomatic delegation includes representatives from Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain meet Wednesday in Pakistan discussing the procedures they took regarding cutting diplomatic ties with Qatar, according to Saudi, Okaz newspaper.

“Qatar is a brother Arab country; however we had to take those decisions against it as a result of its determination to support terrorist groups, which is not acceptable to us nor to any government in the world,” Saudi representative Marwan Merdad said during the meeting.

The four representatives gave the Pakistani Foreign Ministry Assistant of Middle East and Africa Affairs Tasawar Khan the full details of the Qatari-Arab dispute including "Doha’s behavior towards the other Arab governments" according to Okaz, explaining the reasons for considering Qatar’s policy a real threat against the region’s stability.
From his side, Khan wishes the dispute to end soon after reaching a real solution to crises.

The meeting was presented by Pakistan Foreign Ministry Assistant Tasawar khan, Chargé D'affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan Marwan Merdad, the Emirati Ambassador in Pakistan Essa Al-Nuaimi, Chargé D'affaires of the Bahraini Embassy in Pakistan Hamad Al-Hashl and Chargé D'affaires of the Egyptian Embassy in Pakistan Rabab Abdallah.

Qatar’s relations with several Arab and Gulf States have been strained since May 24, when the Qatari state-run news agency reported Sheikh Tamim Al-Thani’s statements regarding Gulf foreign policy with Iran, describing it as “unwise.”

On Monday, June 5, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Libya and Yemen decided to cut all diplomatic ties with Qatar for its “continuous support for terrorism,” closing their airspace and seaports to Qatari transportation.