POLITICAL ISSUES
SAUDI ARABIA
1. Saudi Navy Commander rewarded for his contribution to strengthen bilateral naval ties
Islamabad, Wednesday, 16 December 2015   
At a ceremony in Islamabad, acting President Raza Rabbani conferred one of the top military decorations, Nishan-i-Imtiaz, on Commander of Saudi Naval Forces Vice Admiral Al-Sultan for his efforts to strengthen the bilateral naval ties.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Dawn, Karachi; Daily Times, Lahore; The Express Tribune, Karachi

2. Saudi Arabia reiterates close defence, historical and cultural ties with Pakistan
Islamabad, Saturday, 19 December 2015   
Speaking at the commissioning parade at Pakistan Naval Academy PNS Rahbar, Saudi Naval Forces commander Vice Admiral Al-Sultan highlighted that both nations enjoy intimate relations, and underlined their keenness to further maritime security.
Source: Dawn, Karachi

SYRIA
3. Pakistan voices its opinion against foreign intervention to topple Syrian regime
Islamabad, Thursday, 24 December 2015   
Speaking at the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Chaudhary stated that Pakistan is against any attempt to topple the government of Syrian President Assad and supports a peaceful Syrian-led and inclusive solution for the ongoing crisis.
Source: Dawn, Karachi

ECONOMIC ISSUES
QATAR
4. Qatar urged to increase investment in Pakistan
Islamabad, Tuesday, 29 December 2015
In an interaction with a Qatari delegation led by Jabbor Al Thani, brother of ex-Prime Minister of Qatar at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain urged greater Qatari investment in energy, infrastructure and agriculture sectors. He further added that Pakistan was looking for expansion in its designated quota for Pakistani manpower for 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi; The Express Tribune, Karachi

TURKEY
5. Pakistan’s contribution to Regional trade enhancement highlighted in the Economic Cooperation Organization conference in Turkey
Islamabad, Monday, 26 December 2015   
In the 14th General Assembly meeting of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Ankara, President of ECO, Muhammad Adrees highlighted the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s (FPCCI) efforts for promoting increased trade connectivity in the region.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan Today, Lahore; The Nation, Lahore

SECURITY ISSUES
BAHRAIN
6. Pakistan Navy takes over command of Combined Task Force 151 in Bahrain
Islamabad, Tuesday, 22 December 2015
At a formal change of Command ceremony held at Bahrain, Commodore Zahid Ilyas of Pakistan took over command of Multinational Combined Task Force 151 (CTF- 151), responsible for counter-piracy operations off the coast of Somalia and Horn of Africa 
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

7. Pakistan and Bahrain Navies conclude bilateral exercise
Islamabad, Saturday, 26 December 2015
Pakistani and Bahrain navies concluded bilateral naval exercise "Shaheen Al Jazeera"; that has been regularly conducted since 1997 between Special Services Group-Navy (SSG-N) and the Bahrain Navy Special Forces at Karachi and Manama in alternate years.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan Observer, Lahore; The News International, Karachi; Dawn, Karachi; Daily Times, Lahore; The Express Tribune, Karachi

KUWAIT
8. Commander of Kuwait Air Force visits Pakistan Air Force Headquarters
Islamabad, Monday, 21 December 2015   
Pakistan Air Chief Marshal Sohail Aman welcomed Kuwait’s counterpart Yaqoob Al-Foudari during his visit to the Air Headquarters in Islamabad.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan Air Force Press Release, Islamabad; Daily Times, Lahore

SAUDI ARABIA
9. Pakistan included in Saudi-led coalition against terrorism   
Islamabad, Wednesday, 16 December 2015   
Pakistan was included in the 34-state Islamic military coalition formed by Saudi Arabia to combat global terrorism. Welcoming the move Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah questioned the exclusion of Syria, Iraq and Iran from the alliance.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Dawn, Karachi; Daily Times, Lahore; Pakistan Today, Lahore; The Express Tribune, Karachi

TURKEY
10. Two Pakistani IS suspects arrested in Turkey
Islamabad, Tuesday, 29 December 2015   
Three suspected members of the Islamic State (IS) group, including two Pakistanis, have been arrested in Istanbul's central Mecidiyekoy district by Turkey’s security authorities.
Source: The Express Tribune, Karachi; See also: Dawn, Karachi

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
TURKEY
11. Pakistan-Turkey to enhance collaboration for women empowerment and poverty reduction
Islamabad, Tuesday, 15 December 2015   
Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Marvi Memon met Turkish Minister for Family and Social Policies Sema Ramazanoglu in Islamabad, to enhance bilateral collaboration for women empowerment, poverty reduction, skills development.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi;The Express Tribune, Karachi

COMPILED BY DIVYA MALHOTRA

Divya Malhotra is pursuing M Phil degree 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