The pressures between Arab nations led by Saudi Arabia and Qatar intensified further on Friday when Saudi Arabia commanded the shutting of the broadcast of channels of Al-Jazeera network and winding up of the Turkish airbase in Qatar in a bid to end the ongoing crisis between them.
Besides, Qatar was also asked to severe ties with Muslim Brotherhood, Al Qaeda, and other terror outfits. Kuwait had listed thirteen demands for Qatar to refurbish of the relations between the nations.
The list demanded the handover of citizens of four countries involved in terror activities. It asked the country to stop funding any extremist units that are labeled as terrorist groups by the US and deliver thorough info about opposition figures that Qatar has funded. The sweats of Turkey in mediating between Saudi Arabia and Qatar brought no results.
Recently, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other nations accused Qatar of funding extremist organizations. They ended diplomatic relations with Qatar and also blocked air routes to the country. Qatar demanded that the neighboring states lift their “blockade” as a pre-condition for crisis talks, but the United Arab Emirates cautioned that its isolation could last years.
Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani called the steps against Qatar as “an act of aggression”. “We have to make it very clear for everyone, negotiations must be done in a civilized way and should have a solid basis and not under pressure or under blockade,” he said. “Qatar under blockade — there is no negotiation. They have to lift the blockade,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
