Ishaq Dar, the recently appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, is poised to head the country’s delegation at the upcoming summit of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). During this summit, he plans to address critical issues concerning Gaza and the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
The Foreign Office announced on Wednesday that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar will lead Pakistan’s delegation at the 15th OIC Summit in Banjul, the Gambia, scheduled for May 4-5. Dar will also participate in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on May 2-3 to finalize the Summit’s agenda and outcome documents.
During his visit, Dar will address Islamabad’s stance on the ongoing genocide in Gaza, where approximately 35,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israel since last October, as well as the right to self-determination for the people of IIOJK. He will emphasize the importance of finding collective solutions to challenges facing the Muslim Ummah, including solidarity, unity, rising Islamophobia, climate change, terrorism, and other global issues.
Additionally, the Deputy PM is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with leaders and foreign ministers attending the summit.
It’s noteworthy that in February this year, the OIC held an “Extraordinary Session of Islamic Conference of Information Ministers” condemning Israel’s military aggression in Gaza and calling for accountability for their crimes, while reiterating support for Palestinians’ rights, including national independence and sovereignty.
The upcoming OIC summit presents an important opportunity for member states to discuss the critical situation in Gaza and to demonstrate a strong, unified stance on the Palestinian issue.
