PM reaches Saudi Arabia to attend OIC meeting on Gaza crisis

Deputy Governor Riyadh Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz received premier at airport in Riyadh

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar arrived in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Friday to represent Pakistan at the emergency meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on the situation in Gaza.

Following the October 7 raid on Israel by Palestinian resistance group Hamas, Israel commenced a brutal aerial campaign against Gaza with total disregard for international law and bombed hospitals, mosques, civilian dwellings and other structures mercilessly.

Till now, at least 10,800 civilians - at least 40 per cent of them children - have died in relentless Israeli attacks.

Due to the escalating situation, Saudi Arabia had convened an extraordinary summit of the OIC to discuss the situation.

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Deputy Governor Riyadh Prince Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz received the prime minister on his arrival at the King Khalid International Airport earlier in the day. Pakistan’s ambassador Ahmed Farooq and senior Saudi and Pakistani officials were also present.

During his three-day official visit, the prime minister will participate in the emergency meeting being held in Riyadh, which will discuss the Israeli aggression on Gaza.

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He will also hold sideline meetings with the visiting heads of state and government from other countries.

The OIC’s executive committee earlier held an extraordinary session in Saudi Arabia on October 18 in response to the escalating military situation in Gaza.

The meeting was co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

It was decided that the council of foreign ministers’ meeting would be convened to discuss practical measures to stop genocide in Gaza.

However, since then the situation has further deteriorated, compelling the OIC to convene the summit.