Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Monday to attend the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting. The gathering, focused on the escalating crisis in Palestine and Israel’s looming military takeover of Gaza, was announced by Pakistan’s foreign office.
The OIC meeting, held from August 25-26 in Jeddah, comes as Israeli forces intensify operations in Gaza following the Israeli security cabinet’s approval of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan for Gaza’s military occupation. This decision has sparked global condemnation, with numerous countries urging the international community to prevent Israel from forcibly occupying Gaza.
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Upon his arrival at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, Ishaq Dar was received by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the OIC, Ambassador Fawad Sher, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmad Farooq, and Consul General in Jeddah, Khalid Majid.
In a statement, the foreign office described the meeting as an “Extraordinary Session” that brings together foreign ministers and senior officials from OIC member states to coordinate responses to Israel’s escalating aggression in Palestine. Discussions will address Israel’s proposed military occupation of Gaza, the ongoing displacement of Palestinians, and egregious violations of Palestinian rights.
According to the foreign office, Ishaq Dar will use the platform to advocate for Israel’s complete withdrawal from all Palestinian territories. He will strongly oppose what Pakistan has termed the “outrageous” Israeli plan for full military control over Gaza and further displacement of Palestinians. Dar is also expected to emphasize the urgency of delivering “unhindered humanitarian assistance” to the Palestinian people and reaffirm Pakistan’s support for the establishment of an independent, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state along pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem) as its capital.
Ishaq Dar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from OIC member states on the sidelines of the summit.
The OIC, headquartered in Jeddah, is the second-largest intergovernmental organization globally after the United Nations, comprising 57 member states across four continents. It acts as a collective voice for the Muslim world, safeguarding their interests in economic, social, and political matters.
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic ties with Israel, has consistently condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza. Since October 7, 2023, at least 62,000 Palestinians have been killed, much of Gaza has been reduced to rubble, and nearly the entire population has been displaced internally as a result of Israeli military operations.
