Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Monday reviewed cooperation in the security sector and discussed ways to further expand collaboration with Qatar’s Minister of Interior and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya) Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad.

A statement by Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said Sheikh Khalifa received Naqvi at its office in Doha, where the two sides reviewed cooperative relations between the two countries in the security field.

“They discussed ways to further strengthen and develop them, in addition to exchanging views on several issues of mutual interest,” the statement added.

The visit came amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following the US-Iran conflict. In the past 10 days, the United States has intensified strikes on Iranian infrastructure, while Iran has targeted US military bases in the region. Since then, Pakistan and Qatar have stepped up diplomatic efforts aimed at promoting dialogue and regional stability.

Mediators Pakistan and Qatar have intensified the exchange of messages between the US and Iran after the two warring sides communicated their responses to a joint formula to end their months-long war.

Earlier this week, Islamabad and Doha proposed a joint de-escalation formula, urging the US and Iran to return to their pre-July 9 positions “as a first step” to resume stalled talks to permanently end the conflict, according to an official familiar with the matter.

The de-escalation proposal, jointly drafted by Islamabad and Doha after consulting regional partners, called on both sides to return to the positions they held before the beginning of fresh hostilities.