Pakistan pushes OIC to act on Kashmir, Gaza

Pakistan urged the member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday to formulate a joint strategy to fight Islamophobia at the global level, work together to bring in an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and implement its ‘Action Plan’ on Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the 15th OIC Islamic Summit Conference, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar highlighted anti-Pakistan rhetoric and Islamophobic narratives by Indian political leaders during the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, which, he said, threatened regional stability.

The 15th OIC Summit started on Saturday in the Gambian capital Banjul. World leaders from the 57 member OIC countries and beyond were attending the summit conference. The central theme of the summit was: “Enhancing unity and solidarity through dialogue for sustainable development”.

Condemning the rising trend of Islamophobia and discrimination against Muslims in various parts of the world, the deputy prime minister appreciated the OIC’s appointment of a ‘Special Envoy on Islamophobia’, said a statement released by the Foreign Office in Islamabad.

“The deputy prime minister urged the OIC to formulate a joint strategy to work with global social media platforms to harmonise their application of content regulation policies for blasphemous, anti-Islamic and Islamophobic content,” read statement said.

He also highlighted Indian atrocities in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), especially after India’s illegal and unilateral actions of August 5, 2019. He requested the OIC member to use their influence for urgent resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Dar urged the OIC to implement its Action Plan on Jammu and Kashmir; demand that India ended all human rights violations; release Hurriyat leaders; and reverse its illegal demographic and other unilateral laws, according to the Foreign Office statement.

Dar urged the OIC to work together for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire and uninterrupted humanitarian assistance to the besieged Palestinians in Gaza enclave. He reiterated Pakistan’s full support for admission of the Palestine as a full member of the United Nations.

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The deputy prime minister said that Pakistan continued to face externally-sponsored terrorism from across its borders. He also urged the OIC to help address the existential threat of climate change and underscored that the OIC could play an important role in global economic growth.

On the sidelines of the two-day summit, Dar held bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including president of Gambia Adama Barrow, Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Salah Jama, besides the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar Turkiye and Azerbaijan.

The deputy prime minister and foreign minister also met with China’s National People’s Congress Standing Committee Vice Chairman Zheng Jianbang and reiterated Pakistan’s firm support to China’s core issues and underscored the close bilateral economic collaboration and cooperation.

The two sides expressed their determination to complete all China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Vice Chairman Zheng reaffirmed China’s support for Pakistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity and development.

Meanwhile, talking to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Dar stated that the Saudi foreign minister’s recent visit to Pakistan represented a new momentum in economic collaboration between the two countries.

Both sides reaffirmed their resolve to further enhance economic cooperation and Saudi investments in Pakistan. Dar lauded Saudi Arabia’s “Vision 2030”, which aimed at socio-economic transformation of the kingdom in the 21st century.

Separately, Dar and Qatari State Foreign Minister Soltan bin Saad Al-Muraikhi agreed to expand trade and investment ties and explore increased employment opportunities for the Pakistanis in Qatar. They exchanged views on a range of recent regional and global developments, especially in the Middle East.

Dar, in another meeting, thanked host, President Barrow of Gambia, on the successful holding of the 15th OIC Summit. He appreciated that Gambia highlighted the critical issue of Islamophobia through the OIC Summit platform. They underscored the importance of reinvigorating the bilateral relations.

Dar also discussed bilateral issues with foreign minister Hakan Fidan of Turkiye and Jeyhun Bayramov of Azerbaijan. The deputy prime minister his satisfaction with the positive momentum in the bilateral relations with these countries.

Dar congratulated Bayramov on winning the bid for hosting COP 29 in Baku in November 2024 and expressed Pakistan’s interest in enhanced cooperation and experience sharing in combating climate change.