Islamabad:
Pakistan on Sunday made a sweeping set of proposals at the preparatory ministerial meeting in the Arabic summit in emergencies in Doha, which called for Israel’s accountability, suspension of its UN membership and the formation of an Arab-Islamic Task Force to address what it described as Tel Aviv’s “Rogue Mindset.”
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar outlined a seven-point reaction to the Israeli air strikes on Qatar and urged Muslim states to unite behind concrete measures.
The proposals included: Holding Israel Responsible for war crimes; Creating a common Arabic-Islamic task force to deter further aggression; Persecution of suspension of Israel’s FN membership; Implementation of punishing measures from Member States; Through the UN Security Council requires an immediate and permanent ceasefire along with prisoner exchanges; to ensure unbound humanitarian access in Gaza; and revive a true political process for a two-state solution.
“Israel must be held responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. It should not be allowed to get away with attacking Islamic countries and killing people with impunity,” Dar said in his address, condemning the “illegal and unprovoked” strike on Qatar as a flags violation of international law and the UN charter.
The Foreign Minister said that targeting Qatar was not only an attack on a sovereign state, but also an attack on diplomacy and mediation itself, given Doha’s central role in facilitating ceasefire efforts with Egypt and the United States.
He emphasized that Pakistan, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (UNSC), had already helped convene an emergency instrument on the matter and would continue to work with OIC and Arab partners to press for enforcement measures, including deploying an international protection force for Gaza.
Dar warned that Israel’s repeated strikes across the region reflected a “dangerous trend” that threatened international peace and security. “No state is safe against such unhinged entity that defies all commands of civilized behavior,” he noted.
Dar, who confirmed Islamabad’s solidarity with Doha, Dar said Pakistan supported Qatar’s inalienable right to defend his sovereignty and its human security. He added that the Arab-Islamic world must rise with “unity, determination and purpose” to protect the global order from Israeli’s expanding aggression.
The Arab Summit for Emergency is scheduled to take place in the Doha Monday, the CO convent of Qatar, Pakistan and other Islamic countries. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attends the extraordinary summit in Doha. The summit will discuss the Israeli strikes on Qatar and the Joint Action Plan.
Many Islamic countries seek concrete steps towards Israel after the Jewish launched air strikes against Hamas leaders in Qatar on Tuesday last week. Hamas said five of his members and a local security employee were killed, including the son of the top Hamas dealer Khalil al-Hayya.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Doha on September 11, where he met the Qatari management and expressed Pakistan’s solidarity and support. “Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli aggression against Qatar and other states in the region,” the Foreign Office said at the time.
“Pakistan confirms his commitment to regional peace, security and sovereignty of its partners,” the Foreign Office added. The statement repeated Pakistan’s firm attitude towards Palestine question and called for an immediate end to hostilities through dialogue.
On the sidelines at the meeting, Dar held conversations with his Egyptian colleague, Dr. Badr Abdelatty Sunday. The two foreign ministers condemned illegal Israeli strikes over Qatar and other Muslim nations and called them obvious violations of sovereignty and international law.
The Foreign Office spokesman said in a press release that Foreign Minister Dar and Foreign Minister Abdelatty confirmed their unwavering support for the Palestinian case and emphasized the urgent need for unity across the Muslim Ummah.
Dar also met with Malaysian Foreign Minister Date ‘Seri Mohamad Hasan on the sidelines for the Preparatory Meeting in Doha. “They strongly condemned Israeli strikes over Qatar and other Muslim nations such as gross violations of sovereignty and international law,” said the Foreign Office.
“They confirmed unwavering support for the Palestinian case and emphasized the important meaning of unity across the Muslim Ummah. They welcomed the Arabic Islamic Summit as a timely and essential to collective action at this critical time.”
(With input from app)
