JEDDAH: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, during his two-day official visit for an Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit, has pledged to deepen Pakistan’s bilateral relations with North African nations. In separate meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Algeria on the sidelines of the 21st extraordinary session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, Dar discussed enhancing connectivity and expanding cooperation across diverse fields, reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to stronger ties with the region.
The meetings also served as a platform to address the critical situation in Palestine. Dar and his counterparts underscored the urgent need for humanitarian access, an immediate ceasefire, and a lasting peace solution. They emphasized the importance of Muslim Ummah unity in responding to the crisis, highlighting a shared concern over the escalating violence and humanitarian disaster.
In his formal address to the OIC session, DPM Dar delivered a strong condemnation of Israel’s actions in Gaza. He denounced Israel’s “highly escalatory and dangerous statements” and plans to extend its military control over the strip, which he stated revealed an “annexationist and rogue mindset.” Dar described Gaza as a “graveyard for innocent lives as well as for international law,” citing the overwhelming death toll, most of whom are women and children.
Dar detailed the systematic targeting of civilian infrastructure and the deliberate deprivation leading to a “full-scale humanitarian catastrophe.” He labeled the so-called humanitarian system a “cruel illusion” and pointed to the rampant famine and the shooting of civilians seeking food. Pakistan’s top diplomat called for an immediate ceasefire, accountability for war crimes, and the full implementation of international law and UN resolutions to end the suffering.
