Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will travel to Istanbul on Monday for a one-day visit in order to attend the coordination meeting between Arab-Islamic foreign ministers focused on Gaza ceasefire arrangements, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office announcement. desfasoarilor = Business Recorder
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will host the meeting, with participants from Arab and Islamic states that have actively taken part in the recent peace initiative in Gaza such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, and Indonesia set to attend. Arab News PK.
Key objectives for Pakistan include addressing climate change.
According to its Foreign Office, Pakistan will highlight several issues during the Istanbul session:
Fully implement the Gaza cease-fire agreement – emphasizing that its terms must be respected to their entirety – with full Israeli withdrawal from occupied Palestinian territories, particularly Gaza. (Sources). ; Geo.tv and Business Recorder both support this resolution
Emergency aid to Palestinians and rebuilding of Gaza should not be denied or hindered in any way, according to Arab News PK.
Support an independent, viable, contiguous State of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital based on pre-1967 borders as prescribed in relevant UN resolutions and Arab Peace Initiative. Business Recorder 1+1
Why This Matters The Gaza conflict has drawn intense international scrutiny. The upcoming meeting in Istanbul comes at a crucial juncture when cease-fire remains fragile, sparking widespread anxiety over its durability and how best to advance peace efforts. Arab News PK
Pakistan’s participation reflects its longstanding diplomatic support of the Palestinian cause and aligned efforts by Arab and Islamic states towards reaching a lasting and just solution.
Pakistan’s engagement serves multiple purposes, from reinforcing its global diplomatic presence and reinforcing solidarity among Muslim states and Palestine, to shaping discussions that could impact regional stability and humanitarian outcomes.
Challenges Ahead
The path ahead will be challenging. Achieving a cease-fire requires not just political agreement but effective implementation on the ground; this task can be made more challenging due to ongoing violence, reconstruction needs and geopolitical tensions. At Istanbul meeting this week, questions must be discussed on monitoring mechanisms, long-term humanitarian access guarantees and reconstruction and governance post-conflict.
Pakistan must consider how its agenda affects other states as it navigates complex regional dynamics involving Israel, the US, and Arab-Islamic states when moving forward on its agenda.
Conclusion FM Dar’s presence at the Istanbul meeting underscores Pakistan’s active involvement in regional diplomatic efforts on Gaza. With high stakes and complex issues on the table, this gathering provides an opportunity for Muslim-majority nations to coordinate a collective response and strive towards tangible results. How well the meeting fulfills commitments into tangible actions will have lasting ramifications – both for people in Gaza as well as regional peace.