NEWYORK: Pakistan has called upon the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to demonstrate unity and resolve in confronting the grave challenges facing the Muslim Ummah, from the besieged streets of Gaza to the occupied valleys of Kashmir.
Addressing the annual coordination meeting of OIC foreign ministers in New York, deputy prime minister and foreign minister said the OIC must act as a “voice of justice, of principle, and of truth.”
He urged the Islamic world to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Palestine, ensure full Israeli withdrawal, and secure unhindered humanitarian access.
Calling the suffering in Gaza “not warfare but extermination,” he reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support for the establishment of a sovereign, viable, contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, and its early admission as a full UN Member.
Turning to Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the foreign minister said its people have been dispossessed, silenced, and denied their fundamental right to self-determination.
He urged India to repeal draconian laws, release political prisoners, withdraw troops from civilian areas, and respect Security Council resolutions.
Expressing gratitude for the OIC’s solidarity after India’s “illegal and unwarranted aggression against Pakistan on 6-7 May 2025,” he recalled the martyrdom of 54 innocent civilians including women and children, and said Pakistan responded with “restraint and responsibility,” accepting a ceasefire from a position of strength.
Highlighting the surge in Islamophobia, he described it as “the most insidious racism of our age,” commending OIC efforts at the UN, including the declaration of 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia and the appointment of a UN Special Envoy on the issue.
Ishaq Dar also called for collective action against terrorism, citing Pakistan’s sacrifices of over 80,000 lives and losses of more than 150 billion dollars.
He stressed the need to reform global counter-terrorism frameworks and tackle both violent extremism and far-right Islamophobic groups.
On Afghanistan, he urged early normalization, full humanitarian support, and firm action against terrorist groups, while encouraging the Afghan Interim Government to respect human rights and ensure political inclusion.
Foriegn minister underlined the OIC’s vital role in shaping a fairer global order, driving economic recovery, confronting climate change, and pushing for UN reforms with stronger OIC representation.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s proactive diplomacy, including initiatives on UN-OIC cooperation during its current term on the UN Security Council.
