POLITICAL ISSUES
IRAN
1. Iran, Pakistan to play important role in improving economy, Regional security: NA speaker
Islamabad, Thursday, 4 December 2014
Speaker of National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq, while welcoming Iranian Speaker Ali Larijani, said that Pakistan and Iran could play important role in improving economy and security of their region.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The News International, Karachi

2. Pakistan fully committed to complete Pak-Iran Gas Pipeline Project: Shahid Khaqan
Islamabad, Monday, 8 December 2014
Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Shahid Khaqan Abbasi while talking to an Iranian delegation led by Iranian Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia said that Iran-Pakistan Gas Pipeline Project was vital for Pakistan's energy needs.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi; The Express Tribune, Karachi; The Nation, Lahore

3. Iran’s Deputy FM visited Pakistan embassy, offered sympathies on school attack
Islamabad, Thursday, 18 December 2014
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Ibrahim Rahimpour visited Pakistan Embassy in Tehran and signed the condolence book.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

KUWAIT
4. NA Speaker discussed issues with Amir of Kuwait
Islamabad, Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Speaker of National Assembly Ayaz Sadiq called on Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah in Kuwait City to discuss bilateral relations.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

5. Pak-Kuwait speakers for reinvigorating ties between legislatures
Islamabad, Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Ayaz Sadiq and Speaker of Majlis al-Umma (National Assembly) of Kuwait Sheikh Marzouk Ali Al-Ghanim discussed ways to further enhance bilateral relations between the two legislatures.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; Daily Times, Lahore

QATAR
6. Pak-Qatar bilateral relations are strong: Envoy Saad bin Abdullah
Karachi, Thursday, 25 December 2014
Consul General of Qatar Saad Bin Abdulla Al Mahmoud Al Shareef during a reception to mark Qatar National Day said bilateral relation is based on common faith and culture.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

TURKEY
7. Turkish President, PM phoned PM Nawaz to condemn terrorist act
Islamabad, Tuesday, 16 December 2014
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu called Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to condemn the massacre in Peshawar school.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Pakistan Today, Lahore

8. Turkish Speaker expressed solidarity on Peshawar incident
Islamabad, Wednesday, 17 December 2014
Speaker of Turkish Parliament Cemil Cicek expressed solidarity with Pakistan on the Peshawar incident.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

9. Turkish Deputy PM visited Pak Embassy to condole for Peshawar victims
Islamabad, Thursday, 18 December 2014
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey Blent Arin visited Embassy of Pakistan to express condolences on behalf the Turkish Government.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

10. Turkey honoured Pak envoy with medal of distinguished service
Islamabad, Friday, 26 December 2014
The outgoing ambassador of Pakistan to Turkey Muhammad Haroon Shaukat was honoured with a medal of distinguished services for his efforts to promote bilateral relations by Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The Dawn, Karachi

UAE
11. Dar felicitated UAE on 43rd National Day
Islamabad, Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs of Pakistan Ishaq Dar felicitated the people and the UAE on their 43rd National Day.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Daily Times, Lahore

12. UAE assured support to Pakistan against terrorism
Islamabad, Thursday, 18 December 2014
The UAE denounced the terror attack on a school in Peshawar and assured its support to Pakistan in the war against terrorism.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

ECONOMIC ISSUES
IRAN
13. Pakistan, Iran agreed to expand trade
Islamabad, Monday, 8 December 2014
Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Ishaq Dar and the Iranian Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia held a meeting along with their delegations to focus on trade promotion in the nineteenth meeting of the Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Daily Times, Lahore

14. Pakistan and Iran need to utilize untapped potential
Islamabad, Monday, 8 December 2014
Iranian Economic and Finance Minister Ali Tayebnia and Adviser to Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz met and discussed bilateral relations with reference to the economic dimensions.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

15. Iranian Finance Minister called on PM
Islamabad, Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Iranian Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and discussed enhancing investment and bilateral trade.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

16. Pakistan, Iran signed five MoUs for cooperation in diverse areas
Islamabad, Tuesday, 9 December 2014
Pakistan and Iran signed five memorandums of understanding for cooperation in the areas of investment, economic and technical assistance, small and medium enterprises, ports, and handicrafts at the end of 19th session of Pakistan-Iran Joint Economic Commission.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The Express Tribune, Karachi; Business Recorder, Karachi

17. Iranian finance minister called on Shahbaz
Lahore, Wednesday, 10 December 2014
An Iranian delegation led by Minister for Economic Affairs and Finance Ali Tayebnia met Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and discussed trade and economic relations.
Source: Daily Times, Lahore

QATAR
18. Pak businessmen urged to invest in Qatar
Lahore, Friday, 26 December 2014
A six-member delegation from Qatar invited Pakistani businessmen to initiate joint ventures with Qatari entrepreneurs.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The News International, Karachi; The Dawn, Karachi

SECURITY ISSUES
TURKEY
19. Turkey, Pakistan discussed ways to further boost defence ties
Islamabad, Thursday, 11 December 2014
Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan Muhammad Zakaullah met with Turkish Minister for National Defence Ismet Yilmaz to discuss defence relations during his four days visit to Turkey.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: Business Recorder, Karachi

MISCELLANEOUS ISSUES
TURKEY
20. 4320 MW Dasu Hydropower project road show held in Turkey
Islamabad, Tuesday, 23 December 2014
A technical team of hydropower experts from Pakistan’s Water and Power Development Authority met with Turkish construction companies and explained technical details about Dasu Hydro Power Project of Pakistan.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad

UAE
21. PCB planned 3-nation “A” event in UAE next year: Shaharyar
Karachi, Thursday, 25 December 2014
Board Chairperson Shaharyar M. Khan said that Pakistan Cricket Board had planned an “A” team event between three nations in United Arab Emirates.
Source: Associated Press of Pakistan, Islamabad; See also: The Dawn, Karachi

COMPILED BY PAULAMI SANYAL

Paulami Sanyal is a doctoral candidate at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.  Email

As part of its editorial policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spelling and date formats 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