POLITICAL ISSUES
BAHRAIN
1. Foreign Affairs Advisor visits Bahrain for Manama Dialogue
Islamabad, Friday, 9 December 2016   
Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz represented Pakistan at the Manama Security Dialogue held during 10-11 December, and held a meeting with Bahraini Foreign Minister Al Khalifa to discuss avenues for enhancing bilateral trade and investment.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Dispatch News Desk, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Lahore

EGYPT
2. Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor meets Egyptian Foreign Minister
Islamabad, Sunday, 11 December 2016   
On the side lines of the Manama Security Dialogue 12th Regional Security Summit in Bahrain, Pakistani Foreign Affairs advisor Sartaj Aziz met the Foreign Minister of Egypt Sameh Shoukry to discuss the trajectory of bilateral relations and future course of action.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Dawn, Karachi

PALESTINE
3. Pakistan reiterates support for Palestinian cause; questions new Jewish settlements
Islamabad, Thursday, 29 December 2016   
In the weekly briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Nafees Zakaria reiterated Pakistan’s continued support for Palestine and emphasized on the need to resolve the on-going Middle East conflict.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY
4. Pakistan President condemns blasts in Turkey
Islamabad, Sunday, 11 December 2016   
Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain strongly condemned the terrorist attacks in the Besiktas district of Istanbul on 10 December and reassured Pakistan’s support in fighting terrorism.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi; Radio Pakistan, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

5. Turkish delegation meets Punjab CM
Islamabad, Saturday, 24 December 2016   
In a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, a delegation of Turk Health Ministry discussed avenues of healthcare cooperation including launch of Motorbike Ambulance Service in Punjab and training of Pakistani health personnel in Turkey.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad;See also: The Nation, Lahore

UAE
6. Pak, UAE to strengthen defence ties
Islamabad, Wednesday, 21 December 2016
UAE envoy to Pakistan Ali Noaimi called on Chairman of Pakistan’s Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (CJCSC) Mahmood Hayat to underline issues concerning defence cooperation.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan Observer, Islamabad 

DEFENCE ISSUES
EGYPT
7. Pakistan Defence Production minister meets counterpart in Cairo       
Islamabad, Tuesday, 6 December 2016
Defence Production Minister Tanveer Hussain held a meeting with Egyptian Defence Minister Sedki Sobhy and other ministers in Cairo to discuss matters relating supply of Super Mushshak and JF-17 Thunder aircraft to Egypt.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

JORDAN
8. Pak-Jordan Counter-terrorism exercise conducted      
Islamabad, Thursday, 29 December 2016   
Two-week counter terrorism exercise “Fajr-ul-Sharq 1” was conducted jointly by armies of Pakistan and Jordan in the Bahadur Ranges near Attock, Punjab for counter terrorism training of the military personnel. 
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Dawn, Karachi; The Nation, Lahore

ECONOMIC ISSUES
IRAN
9. Pak, Iran discuss IP Gas pipeline
Islamabad, Tuesday, 13 December 2016   
Iran, Pakistan discussed amendment in the Gas Sale Purchase Agreement (GSPA) for implementation of the stalled Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project in the extended period.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The News International, Karachi; Daily Times, Lahore

TURKEY
10. “Pakistan Country Day” seminar held in Istanbul, investment opportunities discussed
Islamabad, Saturday, 17 December 2016   
Turkey-Pakistan bilateral business and investment potential was discussed at a seminar jointly organized by Consulate General of Pakistan and Istanbul Chamber of Industry.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

11. Turkey to invest in Punjab’s housing, social sector
Islamabad, Sunday, 18 December 2016   
In a meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Chairman Turkish Investment Group Ahmet Albayrak expressed interest in investment in housing and social sectors in Punjab.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
12. OIC’s strategy to curb Islamophobia lauded
Islamabad, Monday, 5 December 2016   
Pakistan’s Secretary Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage (IB&NH), Mohsin Raza lauded the media strategy of Organization of Islamic Cooperation in combating Islamophobia and projecting Islam in a proper perspective.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Radio Pakistan, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

EGYPT
13. Pakistani sailors stranded in Red Sea near Suez Port
Islamabad, Sunday, 11 December 2016   
Eighteen Pakistani sailors were stranded onboard MV AKKAZ, the Ship owned by a Kuwaiti company in the Red Sea, near the Port Suez due to mechanical failure and expiry of technical license.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The Nation, Lahore

IRAN
14. Pakistan to import electricity from Iran
Islamabad, Monday, 5 December 2016   
Pakistan Envoy to Iran Asif Durrani held a meeting with Managing Director of Iran Power and Water Industries Equipment and Services Export Company (Sunir), Bahman Salehi to discuss terms and conditions for importing more electricity from Iran.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The News International, Karachi

15. Iran to invest in Pakistan’s road transport system
Islamabad, Friday, 16 December 2016   
Iranian Consul General Mehdi Sobhani held a meeting with Sindh Minister for Transport and Mass Transit Nasir Shah and proposed investments in public transport, especially in Sindh Province.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Dispatch News Desk, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Lahore

OMAN
16. Oman-Pakistan discuss public diplomacy initiatives
Islamabad, Tuesday, 6 December 2016   
Chief Editor, Times of Oman Scott Armstrong, in a meeting with Pakistan Ambassador Ali Javed appreciated the Pakistan mission’s public diplomacy initiatives in Oman and lauded the achievements of Pakistani youth in sports, arts and academics.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY
17. Turkish religious delegation visits Pak
Islamabad, Saturday, 10 December 2016   
Pakistani President held a meeting with a religious delegation led by Mehmet Gormez, President of Religious Affairs of Turkey in Islamabad and emphasized the need for enhanced religious and educational cooperation between the two countries.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Radio Pakistan, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

18. Pakistan National Poet Iqbal honoured posthumously in Turkey
Islamabad, Saturday, 10 December 2016   
Turkish Minister for Culture and Tourism Nabi Avci posthumously honoured Pakistan’s national poet Allama Iqbal with the prestigious “Dost award” for his contribution to Islam and Muslim political thought, in an award ceremony held in Konya.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Radio Pakistan, Government of Pakistan, Islamabad

COMPILED BY DIVYA MALHOTRA

Divya Malhotra 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