Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar travels to Saudi Arabia for the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting to set the agenda for the Arab-Islamic Summit. The meeting focuses on the situation in the Middle East, especially Israeli actions in Gaza, with leaders advocating for Palestinian support. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will also attend and engage in bilateral discussions.
On Saturday, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed for Saudi Arabia to participate in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) foreign ministers’ meeting taking place in Riyadh. This meeting, scheduled for Sunday, aims to outline the agenda for the upcoming Arab-Islamic Summit. Upon arrival, FM Dar performed Umrah and offered prayers at Masjid-i-Nabwi, embodying the spiritual significance of his visit. He will represent Pakistan alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the summit, who is also traveling to Riyadh on the same day. The meeting will convene prominent leaders, including Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and will focus on critical discussions regarding the Middle East, particularly concerning the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This summit serves as a continuation of the dialogue initiated at the first Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit in 2023, which addressed urgent humanitarian needs in Gaza and sought to enhance international support for Palestine. Following the previous summit, member states committed to providing emergency relief and called for the cessation of Israeli occupation. During the summit, Prime Minister Sharif will reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, advocating for an immediate halt to the suffering in Gaza and the cessation of Israeli military actions that threaten regional stability. He stated previously, “Pakistan stands united with the people of Palestine in their struggle for sovereignty.” The Prime Minister will also seek to engage in bilateral discussions with leaders from various Arab League and OIC member states, fostering collaboration on pressing regional issues.
The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), comprised of 57 member states, plays a vital role in addressing issues pertinent to the Muslim world. The foreign ministers’ meetings serve as a platform to deliberate on strategies and collective actions regarding significant challenges, particularly the Palestinian cause, which remains a central focus for many member countries. The scheduled summit in Riyadh is pivotal, as it aims to define a course of action following the emerging crises in the Middle East, especially in Gaza, which has faced extensive humanitarian challenges.
Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s participation in the OIC ministers’ meeting underscores Pakistan’s proactive diplomatic efforts to address the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict and to bring attention to the plight of the Palestinian people. The visit highlights Pakistan’s commitment to advocating for sovereignty and establishing peace in the region, consistent with its foreign policy objectives.
Original Source: www.dawn.com
