Pakistan: Suspects in 2011 Killing of Saudi Diplomat Fled to Iran

Pakistani police at the scene of the crime in 2011. (AFP)
Pakistani police at the scene of the crime in 2011. (AFP)
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Pakistan: Suspects in 2011 Killing of Saudi Diplomat Fled to Iran

Pakistani police at the scene of the crime in 2011. (AFP)
Pakistani police at the scene of the crime in 2011. (AFP)

Islamabad has asked authorities in Tehran to assist in the arrest of the suspects behind the assassination of Saudi diplomat Hassan al-Qahtani in Pakistan's Karachi in 2011.

Reports have said the killers had fled to Iran.

The Kingdom's ambassador to Pakistan, Nawaf al-Malki, told Asharq Al-Awsat that Saudi Arabia was informed by Pakistan that the murderers were indeed in Iran.

Saudi authorities are dedicating all of their efforts to cooperate with Pakistan to arrest them and allow justice to take its course, he added.

A Saudi committee has been formed to tackle the case and it flew to Islamabad two months ago.

New leads in the case had emerged, prompting Pakistan in November to request Iran's assistance to locate the suspects, who have been identified as Ali Mustehsan, Raza Imam and Syed Waqar Ahmed

Qahtani was a diplomat at the Saudi consulate in Karachi.

He was killed after gunmen riding on two motorbikes opened fire at him in his car as he was headed to work.



Saudi Defense Ministry Hosts Eighth Meeting of 'Dragon Group' Chiefs of Staff 

Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
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Saudi Defense Ministry Hosts Eighth Meeting of 'Dragon Group' Chiefs of Staff 

Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)
Officials are seen at the meeting in Riyadh. (SPA)

The Saudi Ministry of Defense hosted the eighth meeting of the "Dragon Group" Chiefs of Staff in Riyadh., reported the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.

The meeting was attended by the chiefs of staff and representatives from Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, United Kingdom, and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The meeting was opened by Saudi Chief of General Staff Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwaili and covered topics of common interest, including counter-terrorism, developments in the Palestinian territories, the need for humanitarian aid access, and regional de-escalation efforts.

The participants stressed the importance of maritime security, ensuring the safety of waterways, and strengthening anti-smuggling and anti-piracy operations.