Pakistan approves agreement draft to provide troops for World Cup security in Qatar

Pakistan's cabinet has approved a draft agreement that allows the government to provide troops for security at the Fifa World Cup in Qatar later this year, Pakistan's information minister said on Monday.

A summary outlining the agreement, to be signed between Doha and Islamabad, was approved by the cabinet, minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said, ahead of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Qatar starting Tuesday.

It was not immediately clear when the agreement would be signed between the two countries.

The cabinet summary, reviewed by Reuters, said the government of Qatar had requested assistance in security-related aspects of the World Cup between Nov. 20 and Dec. 18 2022, and that Pakistan's military had proposed the signing of an agreement between both states for the purpose.

"The agreement aims to define the obligations of the two parties, the specific specialisations, and the number of security personnel to be sent by Pakistan to participate in the security and safety operations," the summary read.

Qatar’s government media office did not immediately confirm or respond to a request to explain why Doha has requested the Pakistani troops or what they will be doing during the tournament.

Sharif is also scheduled to visit a football stadium in Doha where he will be briefed about the efforts undertaken by the Qatari government in the World Cup, the handout added.