Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the wider international community to take immediate and coordinated measures to halt Israel’s war in Gaza and secure lasting peace for Palestine.
Dar’s Seven Urgent Steps for Peace
Speaking at the extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah on Monday, Dar outlined a seven-point plan, urging Muslim nations to push for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire, unhindered humanitarian access, and stronger support for UNRWA. He further demanded an end to forced displacement and illegal settlements, implementation of Gaza’s reconstruction plan, revival of the two-state solution, and accountability for Israeli war crimes.
Warning Against “Greater Israel” Agenda
Dar warned that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s remarks endorsing a “Greater Israel” reflect “absolute contempt for international law” and pose a grave threat to regional peace. He condemned Israel’s recent military plans to extend full control over Gaza and construct new settlements, moves that could sever the West Bank from East Jerusalem.
Quoting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Dar stressed that the core of the crisis lies in Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land, adding that peace will remain elusive until this occupation ends.
Pakistan’s Consistent Stand on Palestine
The foreign office confirmed that Dar would also hold bilateral meetings with OIC counterparts on the sidelines of the summit to strengthen support for Palestine. It reiterated Pakistan’s consistent stance: demanding Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories and recognition of a sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
OIC’s Collective Response from Jeddah
The Jeddah-based OIC, the world’s second-largest intergovernmental body after the UN, convened this session to formulate a unified response to Israel’s escalating aggression. Pakistan, which has no diplomatic ties with Israel, has repeatedly condemned Tel Aviv’s actions that have killed over 62,000 Palestinians since October 2023, leaving Gaza in ruins and displacing nearly its entire population.
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