POLITICAL ISSUES
IRAN
1. Iran condemned terrorist attacks in Lahore
Lahore, Tuesday, 17 March 2015
A spokesperson of the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the terrorist attacks in Lahore that took place on 15 March.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

QATAR
2. Emir of Qatar arrived on two day official visit
Islamabad, Monday, 23 March 2015
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad arrived on a two-day official visit to Pakistan and this was his first visit to Pakistan since taking over as emir.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

3. Pakistan wants to enhance cooperation with Qatar in all areas: Mamnoon
Islamabad, Monday, 23 March 2015
President Mamnoon Hussain in a meeting with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim discussed bilateral cooperation and emphasized on investment by Qatar in its ongoing and new energy and infrastructure projects. He also asked Qatar to co-finance Neelum-Jhelum Hydropower Project.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

4. Pakistan and Qatar agreed to enhance cooperation in various fields
Islamabad, Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to further promote ties in the fields of energy, trade, economic, investment, manpower and defence to enhance bilateral relations.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan State Times, Karachi

SAUDI ARABIA
5. Pakistan received Saudi call to extend help in Yemen crisis
Islamabad, Thursday, 26 March 2015
Pakistan Foreign Office Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam stated that Pakistan had been asked by the Saudi government for help to deal with the crisis in Yemen.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

6. Not participating in Yemen war but will defend Saudi territorial integrity: Asif
Islamabad, Friday, 27 March 2015
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that contrary to the view that five Muslim countries including Egypt and Pakistan were interested to participate in the Gulf-led military coalition against the Houthis in Yemen, Pakistan has made no decision as yet.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The Dawn, Karachi; The Express Tribune, Karachi

7. Pakistan firmly committed to supporting sovereignty, territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia
Islamabad, Monday, 30 March 2015
A high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad concluded that Pakistan would be committed to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The News International, Karachi

TUNISIA
8. Tunisia wants to upgrade strategic partnership with Pakistan: Envoy
Islamabad, Saturday 21 march 2015
Tunisian Ambassador to Pakistan Adel Elarbi addressed a reception on his country’s 59th Independence said that Tunisia wanted to enhance its strategic partnership with Pakistan.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Daily Times, Lahore

TURKEY
9. Ambassador Sohail for cementing Pak Turkish strategic relations
Islamabad, Monday, 23 March 2015
Pakistan Day was celebrated on 23 March 015 in Turkey where Ambassador to Ankara Sohail Mahmood discussed bilateral strategic relations.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan State Times, Karachi

YEMEN
10. Asif for taking initiative in country's interest over Yemen issue
Lahore, Monday, 30 March 2014
Federal Minister for Water and Power Khawaja Muhammad Asif said that Pakistan would take initiative on the Yemen issue with its interest in mind.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Daily Times, Lahore

11. Pakistan to play role in Yemen conflict to maintain peace: Khaqan
Islamabad, Monday, 30 March 2014
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Pakistan would play its due role in Yemen conflict to maintain peace.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

ECONOMIC ISSUES
QATAR
12. Pakistan, Qatar vow to enhance bilateral cooperation
Islamabad, Monday, 23 March 2014
During a meeting with the Emir of Qatar, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that the bilateral trade was much below its potential. The Emir responded that Qatar would look into investment opportunities in Pakistan, including the energy sector.
Source: The Dawn, Karachi

13. Pak-Qatar energy, defence, trade ties to grow
Islamabad Tuesday, 24 March 2015
Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to enhance trade and strengthen cooperation in the fields of energy, investment, trade, defence and manpower and the two sides also signed three agreements in the field of culture, youth and sports and education.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi; The News International, Karachi

SAUDI ARABIA
14. Dar reviewed performance of Saudi-Pakistan Co. Ltd
Islamabad, Saturday, 14 March 2015
Federal Minister for Finance, Muhammad Ishaq Dar directed the Chief Executive of Saudi-Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Co. Ltd. to devise a roadmap for its future investments. Saudi Pak Industrial and Agricultural Investment Co. Ltd. is a development finance institution and provides a range of financial products and services.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad;See also: The Dawn, Karachi; Daily Times, Lahore; The Express Tribune, Karachi

UAE
15. PM encouraged UAE company to set up oil refinery in KP
Islamabad, Friday, 27 March 2015
Shaikh Muhammad Ahmed Ali Alkaitoob Alnuaimi, CEO of Xclera Resources UAE called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to inform that his company wanted to set up an oil refinery in Pakistan worth US$500 million.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Daily Times, Lahore; The Nation, Lahore

DEFENCE ISSUES
SAUDI ARABIA
16. Pre-scheduled Pak-Saudi joint exercise being carried out since March 19
Rawalpindi, Monday, 30 March 2015
Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Major General Asim Saleem Bajwa said that a pre-scheduled Pak-Saudi joint exercise 'Samsam-5' was being carried out since 19 March in Taif and 292 Pakistani troops were participating in the exercise.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

UAE
17. COAS, UAE Armed Forces Chief discussed defence cooperation
Rawalpindi, Monday, 16 March 2015
UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Hamad Mohamed Thani Al Rumaithy separately called on Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif and Chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) General Rashad Mahmood and discussed matters of mutual interest, including measures to enhance defence cooperation.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Daily Times, Lahore; The Frontier Post, Peshawar

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
TURKEY
18. Pakistan Navy War College delegation visited Turkey
Islamabad, Friday, 20 March 2015
Pakistan Navy War College delegation visited Turkey from 13-18 March.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

COMPILED BY PAULAMI SANYAL

Paulami Sanyal is a doctoral candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats 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