Pakistan welcomes Saudi reconciliation with Qatar as Gulf leaders head to GCC summit

A handout picture provided by the Saudi Royal Palace on January 5, 2021, shows Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (R) welcoming Emir of Qatar Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani (L) upon his arrival in the city of al-Ula in northwestern Saudi Arabia for the 41st Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit. (AFP)

• Pakistani foreign office lauds positive role of Emir of Kuwait, GCC countries toward resolution of differences
• Kuwait’s foreign minister says a declaration would be signed at today’s GCC summit to end Doha rift

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday welcomed the reopening of Saudi Arabia’s airspace and land and sea borders with Qatar in a breakthrough agreement aimed at resolving a political dispute that led Riyadh and its allies to impose a boycott on Qatar.
Kuwait and the United States have been trying to end the row in which Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and non-Gulf Egypt severed diplomatic, trade and travel ties with Qatar in mid-2017.
“Pakistan welcomes the decision by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Qatar to reopen the land, air and sea borders between the two countries,” Pakistan’s foreign office said in a statement. “We also appreciate other steps being taken by the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which will contribute to resolution of outstanding issues between the countries of the organization persisting for almost four years.”
Pakistan thanked the Emir of Kuwait for his “persistent and sincere efforts” and cooperation of GCC countries that had led to the breakthrough deal. 
“Pakistan continues to accord high importance to its relationship with the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as its bilateral relations with all GCC countries,” the foreign office said. “We hope that the GCC Summit, being held today will further build on these encouraging developments and lead to enhanced confidence and cooperation among the countries of the organization.”
Saudi state agency SPA quoted Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as saying the annual gathering of Gulf leaders would unite Gulf ranks “in the face of challenges facing the region.” Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani is on his way to Al-Ula, where the summit is being held, state media reported.
Kuwait’s foreign minister said a declaration would be signed at the summit, which was postponed from its usual December date as Riyadh pushed for an agreement toward ending the rift.
The four boycotting countries had accused Qatar of supporting terrorism. Doha denies the charges and says the embargo aimed to curtail its sovereignty.
“We welcome opening of borders between Saudi Arabia and Qatar,” the Pakistani Prime Minister’s special representative for the Middle East, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi, told Arab News. “This is a vital step for the unity of the Muslim world.”
He added: “The efforts of Emir of Kuwait, leadership role played by King Salman and crown prince Muhammad bin Salman brought a new hope for the Muslim world. We hope that Saudi Arabia will keep on playing its leadership role in solving other internal issues of the Muslim world.”
The prime minister’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis, Sayed Zulifqar Bukhari, said: 
“Pakistan is naturally very happy when two great countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar take steps toward reconciliation. It is welcomed by Pakistan and the entire region. It eases travel restrictions on the people of both the countries and the people of the GCC region. We pray that it’s the beginning of many other moves to bring them closer.”