POLITICAL ISSUES

IRAN

Pakistan sends first woman envoy to Tehran

Islamabad, Wednesday, 8 August 2018     

Ambassador Riffat Masood, a career diplomat with high degree of fluency in Persian, was posted to Tehran as Pakistan’s first woman ambassador. Source: The News International, Karachi

Iranian President invites Imran Khan to Iran

Islamabad, Wednesday, 8 August 2018     

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani lauded Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman and Prime Minister elect Imran Khan on his party’s electoral victory in a telephonic conversation and extended him an invitation to visit his country. Source: The News International, Karachi

IRAN-SAUDI ARABIA CONFLICT

“Pakistan to mediate between Iran, Saudi Arabia”, Imran Khan

Islamabad, Saturday, 4 August 2018         

In a bilateral meeting with the Iranian Ambassador Mehdi Honardoost in Islamabad, Pakistan’s new Prime Minister Imran Khan highlighted his country’s desire to play an interlocutory role between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

OMAN

Oman, Pakistan discuss bilateral ties

Islamabad, Friday, 3 August 2018  

In conversation with the Social Development Minister of Oman Sheikh Mohammed bin Said bin Saif al-Kalbani in Muscat, Pakistan’s envoy Ali Javed discussed prospects of political, military and economic cooperation between the two nations.  Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

SAUDI ARABIA

Islamabad, Riyadh to strengthen ties

Islamabad, Tuesday, 7 August 2018           

Saudi Arabia’s envoy Nawaf Bin Al-Malki met Pakistan’s Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in Islamabad where the two deliberated need to “exploit the tremendous potential for economic cooperation” and enhance people-to-people contacts. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

Pak urges hike in Hajj quota

Islamabad, Wednesday, 8 August 2018     

Pakistan envoy to Saudi Arabia Khan Hasham bin Saddique held a meeting with Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten, Saudi Minister for Hajj and Umrah in Mecca wherein he appreciated Riyadh’s arrangements and requested for an increase in Pakistani pilgrims’ quota in accordance with its latest 2017 census. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

Riyadh offers scholarships for underprivileged Balochi students

Islamabad, Friday, 10 August 2018

As a goodwill gesture, Saudi envoy Nawaf Syed Al-Maliki announced fifty fully-funded graduation and post-graduation scholarships for the underprivileged students from the province of Balochistan at renowned Saudi universities. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

Saudi officials congratulate Imran Khan for electoral victory 

Islamabad, Sunday, 12 August 2018          

King Salman and Crown Prince sent a congratulatory message to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan on his party’s victory in the July 25 parliamentary elections. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad   

UAE

UAE to invest in Pakistan’s development sector  

Islamabad, Tuesday, 14 August 2018         

In an interview to APP Emirati Ambassador to Islamabad Hamad Obaid Alzaabi highlighted mutual concerns namely, “counter-terrorism and extremism, promotion of health and education”, and expressed his country’s interest to enhance investment in welfare and development projects in Pakistan. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

ECONOMIC ISSUES

TURKEY

Imran Khan tweets speedy economic recovery to Turkey

Islamabad, Tuesday, 14 August 2018         

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan, in a twitter message addressed to Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, conveyed his country’s support and best wishes in steering the  country out of economic challenges. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

DEFENCE ISSUES

TUNISIA

Pakistan Naval ship visits Tunis

Islamabad, Tuesday, 21 August 2018         

After a gap of 13 years, Pakistan’s Naval ship Aslat led by Commodore Muhammad Faisal Abbasi visited Tunis as a part of overseas deployment to Mediterranean and European countries, to deliberate over matters of bilateral concern with Tunisian counterparts.     Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

SAUDI ARABIA

Crown Prince invites Pakistan Army Chief

Islamabad, Wednesday, 22 August 2018   

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Bajwa, who was on a personal visit to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, was invited by the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman where both dignitaries discussed bilateral and regional matters over dinner. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES

INDEPENDENCE DAY

Middle East celebrate Pakistan’s 71^st Independence Day

Islamabad, Tuesday, 14 August 2018         

A flag hoisting ceremony was held in the Pakistani embassies in Abu Dhabi, Ankara, Cairo, Riyadh, Tunis and Tehran to mark the 71^st Independence Day anniversary of Pakistan. The celebrations were attended by Pakistani envoys, expats and representatives of local print and electronic media in respective countries. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad,

SAUDI ARABIA

Pakistani envoy meets deported expats in Jeddah

Islamabad, Sunday, 5 August 2018

Pakistan’s envoy to Saudi Arabia Khan Hasham bin Saddique interacted with Pakistani detainees in the Shumaisy Detention Centre in Jeddah to discuss medical and housing issues facing them. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY

Pakistan, Turkey to cooperate in Disaster management  

Islamabad, Monday, 6 August 2018           

Chairman of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and his Turkish counterpart met in Ankara to deliberate over the prospects of training and knowledge sharing in the field of disaster management. Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

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