Amid increasing tension in the Gulf, India and Qatar on Wednesday came out against any unilateral action against Baghdad, even as the two countries agreed on the need to set up a bilateral framework for fighting terrorism.

The agreement emerged at a meeting between visiting Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and Qatar's Foreign Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jabor Al-Thani in Doha, an official spokesman said.

Advani's meeting comes ahead of his discussions on Thursday with the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Discussing the security scenario in South Asia, Advani told Qatar's foreign minister that despite India's initiatives like the bus service between Lahore and New Delhi, and the Agra summit, Pakistan has failed to keep its promise to check cross-border terrorism.

Advani thanked the Qatar government's unequivocal condemnation of the terrorist attack on Indian Parliament.  Qatar and Oman were the only Gulf countries to have condemned the attack.

Qatar's Foreign Minister hoped the differences between India and Pakistan would be resolved and the process of dialogue would resume.

With regards to the Iraq crisis, Advani made it clear that no unilateral action should be taken without the sanction of the United Nations sanction and mandate. Sheikh Jabar Al Thani expressed similar sentiments, the official said.

The two ministers agreed to build on cooperative relations, pending issues extradition treaties, mutual assistance on criminal matters and setting up of a Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism.

Advani also raised the issue of difficulties faced by the expatriate Indian community in Qatar relating to visas and other issues.