Dar to participate in Arab-Islamic FMs meeting in Istanbul; Calling for full Israeli withdrawal, unhindered aid flow
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan Photo: X/ForeignOfficePk
ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar will join his counterparts from key Arab and other Muslim countries in Istanbul on Monday (today) to discuss peace efforts in Gaza.
Invited by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the meeting brings together Pakistan and seven other Arab-Islamic countries that were engaged in the peace initiative that culminated in the Gaza Peace Agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh.
During the meeting in Istanbul, Pakistan will emphasize the full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, demand complete Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, especially Gaza, and call for the delivery of unhindered humanitarian aid and reconstruction of the enclave, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Pakistani delegation will also reaffirm the need for a viable, independent and contiguous State of Palestine with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, based on the pre-1967 borders, in accordance with UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.
“Pakistan has been, and will continue to be, committed to efforts to restore peace, justice and dignity to the Palestinian people, as well as to ensure the realization of their right to self-determination,” the press release said.
In addition to the diplomatic forum, Pakistan’s potential role in the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza is under consideration. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has confirmed that the decision to contribute Pakistani troops is still being finalised, stressing that any deployment would be made under a collective decision and ideally a UN mandate.
The ISF, a key pillar of the US-brokered Gaza peace framework, envisions a multinational force drawn from Muslim-majority countries to maintain internal security, assist with reconstruction and secure borders under Palestinian and international supervision.
Pakistan, with its extensive peacekeeping track record and past backing of the eight-nation initiative behind the Gaza plan, is seen by analysts as a credible candidate.
Yet Islamabad faces a dual challenge: adapting its principled pro-Palestinian stance to the diplomatic and operational demands of the proposed peacekeeping force. Domestic opinion is strongly in favor of Palestinian self-determination, and any perceived alignment with Western-orchestrated missions could provoke criticism.
Meanwhile, the government has reaffirmed its commitment to working through institutions and following a fair process before any deportation decision.
During the meeting in Istanbul, important points to see are whether Pakistan places any conditions on its participation in the ISF, how strongly it pushes for Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction of Gaza, and whether the Arab-Islamic group issues a communique setting operational conditions for the stabilization force.
As Pakistan prepares to take a seat at the table in Istanbul, it is positioning itself at a strategic turning point, from diplomatic protest to possible active engagement in regional stabilization efforts. According to observers, the decisions taken now could mark a milestone in Islamabad’s foreign policy and South Asia’s role in the peace architecture of the Middle East.
