Dar will attend the Arab-Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul; Urge Israel’s full withdrawal and 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 major Arab and other Muslim countries in Istanbul on Monday (today) to discuss peace efforts in Gaza.
Invited by Turkiye Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, the meeting brings together Pakistan and seven other Arab-Islamic countries that participated in the peace initiative that culminated in the Gaza Peace Agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh.
During the Istanbul meeting, Pakistan will emphasize full implementation of the ceasefire agreement, demand Israel’s complete withdrawal from the occupied Palestinian territory, especially Gaza, and urge provision of unrestricted humanitarian assistance 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 line with United Nations 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 states.
Beyond the diplomatic forum, Pakistan’s potential role in the proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza is under discussion. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif confirmed that the decision on Pakistani troop contribution is still being finalized and emphasized that any deployment would be made under a collective decision and ideally under a United Nations mandate.
The ISF, a key pillar of the US-brokered peace framework for Gaza, envisions a multinational force made up of Muslim-majority countries to maintain internal security, assist with reconstruction and secure borders under Palestinian and international supervision.
Pakistan, with its long record of peacekeeping and its previous support for the eight-nation initiative behind the Gaza plan, is seen by analysts as a credible candidate.
Still, Islamabad faces a double challenge: aligning its principled pro-Palestinian stance with the diplomatic and operational demands of the proposed peacekeeping force. Domestic opinion strongly favors 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 due process before any deployment decisions.
During the Istanbul meeting, key issues to watch include whether Pakistan sets any conditions for its participation in the ISF, how strongly it pushes for the Israeli withdrawal and reconstruction of Gaza, and whether the Arab-Islamic group issues a statement setting out operational terms for the stabilization force.
As Pakistan prepares to come to the table in Istanbul, it is positioning itself at a strategic inflection point, from diplomatic protest to possible active participation in regional stabilization efforts. Decisions made now could mark a milestone in Islamabad’s foreign policy and South Asia’s role in the Middle East peace architecture, observers say.
