Islamabad – The Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan and Foreign Minister, Muhammad Ishaq Dar, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to attend an extraordinary meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers.
The meeting is set to be convened on August 25-26 in Jeddah to discuss the worsening situation in Palestine in the face of the proposed Israeli military occupation of Gaza
Such high-level representation by Pakistan highlights its principled stand on the Palestinian cause and strengthens its adherence to a diplomatic and humanitarian solution.
On his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Dar was received by Pakistan Permanent Representative to the OIC, Ambassador Fawad Sher, Ambassador Ahmad Farooq, and Pakistan Consul General in Jeddah, Khalid Majid.
The meeting of the OIC foreign ministers and other senior officials will discuss a concerted action to “the escalating developments in Palestine, arising from the ongoing Israeli military aggression, proposed plans for full military control over Gaza, and the continuing egregious violations of Palestinian rights,” according to the foreign office.
Agenda of Meeting
In a statement issued on Sunday, the foreign office of Pakistan identified the main points that Dar would pursue at the meeting. He will demand full withdrawal of Israel from all Palestinian territories and oppose the Israeli scheme of extending full military occupation of Gaza and further displacement of Palestinians as outrageous.
The position of Pakistan also encompasses the reality of an “imperative of free-flowing humanitarian aid to the people of Palestine”. Also, the Deputy PM will advocate the creation of a separate, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state using the pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Situation in Gaza
The meeting follows a ratcheting up of Israeli military operations in Gaza, with a plan endorsed by the security cabinet of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza militarily. This action has received serious criticism from several countries and has resulted in demonstrations all over the world calling upon the international community to intervene.
Pakistan has been repeatedly criticizing the Israeli military actions in Gaza. Pakistani officials estimated that the war had killed at least 62,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, destroyed much of the territory, and caused the internal displacement of virtually the entire population.
Efforts from Pakistan
Pakistan has always been supportive of the rights of the Palestinian people. This diplomatic visit to Jeddah is part of that policy. Through its proactive approach to the OIC meeting, Islamabad seeks to establish an effective contribution to the strategy of the organization and ensure that the voice of the Palestinian people is heard by the global community.
Besides the main meeting, Dar will also have bilateral talks with his counterparts in the other OIC member states during the summit. These talks will give a chance to build diplomatic relations and develop common strategies in other areas of common interest.
The joint diplomatic action is meant to support the efforts of the global community to seek peace, and the interests of Muslim-majority countries are to be taken into consideration in international negotiations.
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