By Usman Ansari
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan wants to increase defense cooperation with Qatar, but though relations between the states are warm, analysts are uncertain if improvements can be achieved.
The move also comes against the background of Pakistan's strained relations with other Arab Gulf States stemming from its failure to join the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Efforts to improve Qatar-Pakistan defense relations were proposed during a visit to Islamabad, which started Monday, by Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Ghanim Bin Shaheen al-Ghanim.
During his stay al-Ghanim met with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Army leader Gen. Raheel Sharif, and head of the Navy Adm. Muhammad Zakaullah.
According to a press release by the military's Inter Services Public Relations media branch, during the meeting with Sharif, al-Ghanim praised the military's fight against terrorism and "discussed matters of professional interest and mutual cooperation between the two Armed Forces."
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