Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed for Qatar on Monday to take part in the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit being held in Doha. The summit has been co-sponsored by Pakistan and convened in response to the recent Israeli airstrikes on Doha and the rapidly worsening situation in Palestine. Israel’s aggressive attempts to occupy Gaza, expand illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, and forcibly displace Palestinians have escalated tensions in the region.
The summit is expected to be attended by heads of state, governments, and senior officials from the member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Pakistani Delegation Accompanies the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Shehbaz is accompanied by key cabinet members and advisors. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi are traveling with him. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is already present in Doha, where he attended the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers ahead of the summit.
The participation of Pakistan at this high-level meeting underscores the country’s commitment to regional peace, solidarity with Qatar, and unwavering support for the Palestinian cause.
Pakistan’s Earlier Gesture of Solidarity with Qatar
Following Israel’s airstrikes on Doha earlier this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also paid a visit to Qatar on September 11, 2025. During that visit, he met with the Qatari leadership to reaffirm Pakistan’s strong support for Qatar’s sovereignty, stability, and security. The visit highlighted Pakistan’s broader commitment to promoting unity within the Muslim Ummah and working collectively to safeguard peace in the Middle East.
Foreign Ministers’ Preparatory Meeting and Key Interactions
On the sidelines of the preparatory meeting of foreign ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar engaged in several bilateral discussions. He met with Egyptian Foreign Minister Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Mohamad Hasan, Bangladesh’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain, Uzbekistan’s Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, and the OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha.
These meetings focused on consolidating a united stance within the OIC framework and strengthening the call for collective measures against Israeli aggression.
Ishaq Dar Calls Out Israel for War Crimes
Addressing the ministerial meeting on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar strongly condemned Israel’s actions, labeling them as war crimes and crimes against humanity. He described the airstrikes on Qatar as a “reckless and provocative attack” and a clear violation of international law, including the UN Charter’s prohibition against the use of force.
Dar pointed out that the frequent emergency meetings of the OIC illustrate the recurring nature of Israeli aggression, which has become a persistent threat to global peace and security. He praised Qatar’s efforts to keep channels of dialogue open, noting that the attack on Qatar is not only an assault on a sovereign state but also an attack on diplomacy and mediation itself.
Pakistan’s Proposals for Urgent Action
Pakistan has presented a set of urgent and essential measures to counter Israeli aggression and safeguard peace in the region. These include:
- Ensuring Israel is held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
- Creating an Arab-Islamic task force to monitor Israeli expansionist designs and adopt coordinated defensive measures.
- Pursuing Israel’s suspension from the United Nations, in line with OIC’s earlier call.
- Enforcing punitive measures against Israel to strengthen accountability and deter future violations.
- Demanding through the UN Security Council, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, release of hostages, and exchange of Palestinian prisoners.
- Guaranteeing sustained humanitarian access to civilians in need and protecting aid workers, medical teams, and UN staff in occupied Palestinian territories.
- Reviving a time-bound political process to achieve a two-state solution in accordance with international law and relevant UN and OIC resolutions.
