Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be among the leaders from around 50 states expected[1] to attend the Arab-Islamic summit in Doha today to consider a draft resolution on recent Israeli attack[2] on Qatar.
The high-level moot — being held under the umbrella of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) — is expected to draw heads of state and governments, along with senior officials, from across the Muslim world.
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar is already in Doha and actively participated in a meeting of foreign ministers[3] on Sunday to craft the draft resolution that will be discussed during today’s summit, which has been co-sponsored by Pakistan.
The summit has been convened to rally support for Qatar following the Israeli attack targeting[4] Hamas leaders in the Gulf state on September 9. Five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer were killed[5] in the attack. The attack — widely condemned[6] by major world powers — was carried out while negotiations were underway for a ceasefire in Gaza, in which Qatar has been playing an instrumental role[7].
Analysts say[8] tomorrow’s Arab-Islamic summit is meant to send Israel a clear signal. Its attack has prompted US-allied Gulf Arab states to close ranks, adding to strains in ties between the UAE and Israel, which normalised relations in 2020.
According to a Dawn report[9], diplomats said leaders at the summit may also weigh in on pushing Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly session in New York.
Apart from PM Shehbaz, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi PM Mohammed Shia al-Sudani will also attend the moot. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is also expected to participate, Turkish media reported[10].
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas also arrived in Doha on Sunday, on the eve of the summit.
However, it remained to be seen whether Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, would attend, though he visited Qatar earlier this week in a show of neighbourly solidarity.
Dar seeks steps against Israel to safeguard global order
After landing in Doha yesterday, Foreign Minister Dar called for urgent steps[11] against Israel to “safeguard the global order”.
Attending a ministerial meeting in the Qatari capital, Dar delivered a speech where he highlighted that the frequency of meetings to discuss Israel’s activities in the region underlines “how Israel has become a persistent irritant and a danger to world peace and security”, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO).
“Pakistan condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the illegal and unprovoked Israeli aggression against the brotherly State of Qatar,” Dar was quoted as saying.
Following Israel’s attack, PM Shehbaz undertook a one-day visit[12] to Doha last week, where he met with Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to denounce the Israeli action and show solidarity with the Gulf state.
More to follow
References
- ^ expected (www.dawn.com)
- ^ recent Israeli attack (www.dawn.com)
- ^ meeting of foreign ministers (www.dawn.com)
- ^ targeting (www.dawn.com)
- ^ killed (www.dawn.com)
- ^ widely condemned (www.dawn.com)
- ^ instrumental role (www.dawn.com)
- ^ say (www.dawn.com)
- ^ According to a Dawn report (www.dawn.com)
- ^ Turkish media reported (www.turkishminute.com)
- ^ called for urgent steps (www.dawn.com)
- ^ one-day visit (v)