
Qatar steps up efforts to help resolve India-Pakistan crisis
Doha
Qatar has stepped up efforts to help resolve outstanding issues between India and Pakistan through dialogue and peaceful means, with Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani holding phone calls with Indian foreign minister and Pakistan's prime minister.
On Wednesday, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs held a phone call with Minister of External Affairs of the Republic of India HE Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
During the phone call, the two sides discussed bilateral cooperation and ways to strengthen and expand it.
They also addressed the latest developments in the ongoing crisis between the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and ways to resolve it through diplomatic means.
During the call, the Prime Minister expressed the State of Qatar's deep concern over the continued escalation between India and Pakistan, affirming its full support for all regional and international efforts aimed at resolving outstanding issues between the two countries through dialogue and peaceful means.
Likewise, the PM held a phone call with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan HE Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.
During the call, they discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and ways to support and strengthen them.
They also discussed the latest developments in the crisis between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of India, and ways to resolve it through diplomacy.
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