POLITICAL ISSUES
IRAN
1. Pak-Iran ties need to be further strengthened: Naek
Islamabad, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Chairman of Senate Farooq H. Naek has stressed the need for building people-to-people contact between Pakistan and Iran. The two countries also agreed to join hands for regional peace and prosperity.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

2. Pakistan to support Iran if Israel attacks, says Wajid
London, Thursday, 9 February 2012
Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Britain Wajid Shamsul Hasan said that Pakistan would be forced to support Iran if Israel attacks it. He also stated that Pakistan’s relations with America were at their worst.
Source: The Nation, Lahore

3. Iranian President accorded warm welcome at Aiwan-e-Sadr
Islamabad, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was received by President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on his arrival in Islamabad to participate in the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran trilateral summit.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

4. Zardari, Ahmadinejad discuss bilateral ties
Islamabad, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Formal talks between President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and President Asif Ali Zardari focused on ways to strengthen bilateral ties in political and economic areas.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

5. Pakistan, Iran should explore opportunities to expand ties: Firdous
Islamabad, Saturday, 18 February 2012
Federal Minister for Information Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan has stressed that Iran and Pakistan should explore new opportunities to enhance bilateral ties.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

6. Malik sees Iran-Pakistan relationship bright
Islamabad, Saturday, 18 February 2012
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has said that Pakistan’s relations with Iran would be further strengthened as both share same history, religion and culture.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

KUWAIT
7. PM greets Kuwaiti counterpart on National Day
Islamabad, Saturday, 25 February 2012
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has sent a message of greetings to Prime Minister of Kuwait Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah on their National Day falling on 25 February.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

QATAR
8. Qatar’s PM terms Gilani’s visit as heartening moment for Arab world
Doha, Monday, 6 February 2012
Prime minister of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Thani expressed hope that bilateral ties between Pakistan and Qatar would be strengthened with the visit of Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

9. Pakistan, Qatar to further foster ties in multiple fields: Gilani
Doha, Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Pakistan and Qatar have signed several accords to strengthen bilateral ties in areas of defence, defence production, energy and construction.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

SYRIA
10. Pakistan backs Arab plan for peace in Syria
United Nations, Saturday, 18 February 2012
Pakistan voted for the Arab League-sponsored resolution, calling on Syrian President Bashar al Assad to step down resolution, at the United Nations. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations Abdullah Hussain Haroon also urged the warring sides in Syria to shun violence and resolve the crisis through negotiation.
Source: News Pakistan

UAE
11. Pakistan-UAE prisoner swap deal inked
Abu Dhabi, Sunday, 26 February 2012
Pakistani Interior Minister A Rehman Malik and Interior Minister of United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan signed agreement on transfer of sentenced prisoners between the two countries. The agreement will come into force within two weeks and both the Interior Ministers will work out the transfer plan.
Source: The News, Karachi

12. Pak, UAE FMs co-chair 10th session of JMC in Abu Dhabi; hold bilateral talks
Islamabad, Monday, 27 February 2012
Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar and Foreign Minister of UAE, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nayhan, as co-chairs of Pak-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission, signed the Minutes of the 10th Session of Pak-UAE Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) including transfer of Sentenced persons.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

ECONOMIC ISSUES
IRAN
13. Pakistan committed to gas pipeline project with Iran: Zardari
Islamabad, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
President Asif Ali Zardari has assured Iran that Pakistan is committed to early implementation of Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project to meet the growing demand  for energy and power.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

IRAQ
14. Iraq offers Pakistan Oil on long term payment facility
Islamabad, Thursday, 16 February 2012
Iraq has put forth a proposal for lending oil with the facility of long term payment to Pakistan.
Source: News Pakistan

OMAN
15. Jamali for enhancing economic cooperation between Pakistan and Oman
Islamabad, Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Acting Chairman Senate, Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali stressed the need for enhancing the existing cultural and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Oman.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

QATAR
16. Pakistan, Qatar sign accords on LNG import, security cooperation
Doha, Monday, 6 February 2012
Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to collaborate in multiple areas mainly import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) from the Gulf state.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

17. Pakistan, Qatar agree on cooperation in energy, trade, infrastructure
Doha, Monday, 6 February 2012
Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to promote trade and investment between the two countries and collaborate in diverse areas like energy, trade, agriculture and infrastructure development.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

18. Gilani invites Qatar’s businessmen to invest in energy, hydrocarbon sectors
Doha, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani invited businessmen from Qatar to invest in Pakistan in various sectors.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

19. Qatar Emir terms Gilani visit a ‘new chapter in strategic relations’
Doha, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Qatar and Pakistan have signed several agreements and Memoranda of Understanding between the two countries including import of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), security cooperation, customs and hydroelectric power development.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

20. Pakistan, Qatar clinch deal to import 500mcfeet LPG daily
Karachi, Sunday, 19 February 2012
Pakistan has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Qatar for import of 500 million cubic feet of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) per day.
Source: Pakistan Today, Lahore

21. PM directs TDAP to hold exhibition of Pakistani products in Qatar
Islamabad, Thursday, 23 February 2012
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has asked the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to organise an exhibition of the country’s products in Doha.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

UAE
22. UAE assures of support for Pakistan-GCC FTA
Abu Dhabi, Monday, 27 February 2012
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has assured support for Free Trade Agreement between Pakistan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

MULTILATERAL
23. Ministry of Commerce finds new trade avenues with Tunisia, Algeria
Islamabad, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Pakistan and Tunisia have agreed to expedite the completion of Preferential Trade Agreement to boost trade partnership between the two countries. Similarly Algeria and Pakistan, have also agreed to promote trade between the two countries by reducing tariff and non tariff barriers.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

24. Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan vow to jointly counter terrorism
Islamabad, Friday, 17 February 2012
President Asif Ali Zardari has said Pakistan along with Afghanistan and Iran was committed to rid the region of the “menace” of terrorism while addressing a joint press conference with the Presidents of Afghanistan and Iran here at the end of the third trilateral summit.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

MISCELLANEOUS
QATAR
25. Gilani relishes rare artifacts at Sheikh Thani museum
Doha, Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani visited Sheikh Faisal Bin Qassim Al Thani museum which houses a private collection of over 3,000 pieces of ceramics, weapons, jewels and currency, dating back to the 15th and 16th centuries.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

26. Gilani visits Doha’s Islamic art museum
Doha, Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani visited the Museum of Islamic Art.The museum is one of the world’s most complete collections of Islamic artifa cts including historic manuscripts of  Quranic verses, textiles and ceramics.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan

SAUDI ARABIA
27. Pakistan seeks hike in pilgrimage quota
Jeddah, Sunday, 19 February 2012
Pakistan Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah put forth his country’s request for an additional quota of 10,000 pilgrims to Saudi Minister for Haj Bandar Al-Hajjar. Numerous other issues relating to better services for Hajis also were discussed.
Source: Arab News, Jeddah

28. Pakistan, S. Arabia sign Hajj agreement
Jeddah, Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah and Saudi Minister for Haj Dr Bandar bin Mohammad Al Hajjar signed the Haj agreement, according to which Pakistan’s quota is likely to be increased by 10,000 pilgrims.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Dawn

29. Pak Navy ship on goodwill visit to Jubail
Jeddah, Monday, 27 February 2012
Pakistan Navy Ship PNS Babur will call at Jubail port for a goodwill-cum-training cruise from March 3 to 7. Members of the Pakistani community in Jubail and surrounding areas can avail of this opportunity to visit the ship.
Source: Arab News, Jeddah

SYRIA
30. Pakistan issues travel advisory for Syria
Islamabad, Tuesday, 21 February 2012
The Pakistani mission in Syria has issued a travel advisory for Syria citing security reasons.
Source: Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Compiled by Akanksha Narain

Akanksha Narain is an Intern at MEI@ND. Email

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND P R Kumaraswamy