Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar strongly denounced the increase in anti-Pakistan rhetoric and Islamophobic narratives by Indian political leaders during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, which pose a threat to regional stability. Speaking at the 15th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit conference in Banjul, the capital of Gambia, he emphasized that Pakistan continues to face terrorism sponsored from across its borders, despite being the biggest contributor to the fight against terrorism.
Furthermore, the foreign minister expressed Pakistan’s deep concern regarding Israel’s ongoing military aggression against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank. Given the genocide of Palestinians and the atrocities committed by Israeli forces, he called upon OIC member states to collaborate in achieving an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, as well as providing uninterrupted humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinians.
The foreign minister also voiced Pakistan’s support for Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations, the resumption of the peace process to achieve a two-state solution, and the establishment of a viable, contiguous, and sovereign Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. This statement was conveyed by the Foreign Office spokesperson in a press release.
The deputy prime minister emphasized the need to address Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), particularly following India’s illegal actions of August 5, 2019. He called on the OIC to enforce its action plan on Jammu and Kashmir, urging India to halt all human rights violations, release Hurriyat leaders, and revoke its illegal demographic and other unilateral laws.
He commended the OIC for its unwavering support for the Kashmir cause and urged member countries to leverage their influence for the prompt resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with relevant UN Security Council and OIC resolutions.
The foreign minister denounced the increasing instances of Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims worldwide. He urged the OIC to develop a unified approach to collaborate with global social media platforms in regulating content related to blasphemy, anti-Islamic sentiments, and Islamophobia. He also praised the OIC’s appointment of a special envoy on Islamophobia.
Both the deputy prime minister and foreign minister highlighted the OIC’s potential to contribute significantly to global economic development. They called on the OIC to collectively address the pressing issue of climate change, which led to devastating floods in Pakistan in 2022. Additionally, the deputy prime minister reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to revitalize the UN system and reform the UN Security Council to enhance its representativeness, democracy, and effectiveness in promoting international peace and security.
Furthermore, in a meeting held on the sidelines of the summit conference, Ishaq Dar and Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zheng Jianbang reiterated their commitment to completing all China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and enhancing cooperation to achieve common goals. Dar emphasized Pakistan’s unwavering support for China’s key issues and highlighted the significance of strengthening mutually beneficial ties through close economic collaboration.
Zheng Jianbang restated China’s backing for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and development, as stated by a Foreign Office spokesperson in a press release. Dar and Zheng also deliberated on China’s expanding relationship with the OIC and stressed the importance of dialogue and understanding for mutual peace and prosperity.
In a separate discussion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Foreign Minister of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov exchanged views on bilateral relations and agreed to further enhance cooperation in various areas, such as trade, connectivity, energy, and people-to-people interactions.
During a bilateral meeting held on the sidelines of the 15th OIC Islamic summit conference, the importance of strengthening dialogue and engagement, especially at the political level, was emphasized by the FO spokesperson in a press release.
Dar extended congratulations to Azerbaijan for securing the bid to host COP 29 in Baku in November 2024 and conveyed Pakistan’s keenness to enhance cooperation and exchange experiences in addressing climate change.
He also commended Azerbaijan’s unwavering and principled stance on the just cause of the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K).
Furthermore, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar engaged with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to assess the status of bilateral relations.
Both leaders, pleased with the positive trajectory of bilateral relations, reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen cooperation, with a specific emphasis on economic, trade, and defense sectors, as per an FO statement.
