Apr 16, Kathmandu - Pakistan's Prime Minister has arrived in Qatar on Thursday to serve as a key mediator in the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran. This development follows his recent meetings with senior Saudi officials in Riyadh, aimed at creating a conducive environment for the second phase of peace talks between Washington and Tehran.

According to an official statement from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's office, after his visit to Saudi Arabia, the delegation traveled to Doha, where he is expected to meet with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The discussions will focus on Pakistan's efforts to promote regional and global peace, officials said.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister's office indicated that following his Middle East visit, Sharif plans to travel to Turkey. This series of diplomatic engagements comes in the wake of high-level talks held last weekend in Islamabad, involving American and Iranian representatives, which, however, failed to produce any immediate agreement.

Since the start of the two-week ceasefire on April 7, efforts to establish a permanent end to the conflict in the Middle East have faced hurdles, with Pakistan's recent negotiations not yet leading to a concrete resolution. The conflict was initially sparked late February following attacks on Qatar's energy infrastructure by Iran, partly due to tensions related to US and Israeli actions against Iran.

Iran shares a significant southern Pars gas field with neighboring countries, and major LNG producers like the US, Australia, and Russia are involved in the region. Qatar remains a vital energy supplier to Asian nations, including Pakistan.