Pakistan and Qatar have agreed to strengthen their security partnership and expand cooperation in internal security, reaffirming their commitment to closer institutional coordination and regional peace and stability.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Qatari counterpart, Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who also commands Qatar’s Internal Security Force, Lekhwiya, in Doha on the sidelines of the Global Security Forum 2026.
The two sides discussed ways to expand bilateral cooperation in relevant security fields, alongside regional developments and matters of mutual interest. They agreed to further strengthen coordination between their respective interior ministries and deepen their security partnership.
Naqvi said Pakistan and Qatar were working together to promote regional peace and stability. Sheikh Khalifa reaffirmed Qatar’s high regard for its relations with Pakistan, signaling Doha’s willingness to continue close engagement with Islamabad.
Makkah Defence Agreement and Regional Security
The meeting comes amid Pakistan’s broader efforts to strengthen security partnerships and promote regional stability. Addressing the Global Security Forum, Naqvi referred to the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement signed by Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye on August 7, 2026, describing it as a defensive arrangement rather than an alliance directed towards war. Qatar is not a signatory to that agreement.
Naqvi also emphasized dialogue, trust and sustained engagement as essential to preventing conflicts. He highlighted Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate talks between Iran and the United States, arguing that lasting peace requires continued diplomatic engagement rather than isolated meetings.
The security discussions with Qatar reflect Islamabad’s interest in strengthening cooperation with regional partners as countries face evolving security challenges. Closer coordination between the two interior ministries could provide a framework for further engagement on internal security and other mutually agreed areas, although the public announcements did not specify new operational arrangements or concrete implementation measures.
Pakistan and Qatar maintain longstanding bilateral ties, and the latest meeting reaffirmed both sides’ stated intention to deepen cooperation while supporting regional peace and stability.
