Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to join leaders from nearly 50 nations in Doha today for the Arab-Islamic summit, where participants will deliberate on a draft resolution addressing Israel’s recent strike in Qatar.
The gathering, convened under the umbrella of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is drawing heads of state, prime ministers, and senior officials from across the Muslim world. Pakistan is among the co-sponsors of the draft resolution, which was shaped during Sunday’s foreign ministers’ meeting in Doha, attended by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar.
The summit was called in response to Israel’s September 9 attack on Qatari soil that killed five Hamas leaders and a Qatari security officer. The strike, widely condemned by global powers, came as Qatar was mediating delicate ceasefire talks in Gaza.
Observers believe today’s summit aims to send Israel a unified warning, while also showcasing growing Arab and Islamic solidarity. The attack has strained ties between Israel and Gulf states, particularly the UAE, which normalized relations with Tel Aviv in 2020. Diplomats also suggest the summit could push for renewed momentum on Palestinian statehood at the upcoming UN General Assembly session.
Alongside PM Shehbaz, notable attendees include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas. However, uncertainty remains over the attendance of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, despite his recent solidarity visit to Qatar.
Pakistan’s Position on Israeli Aggression
Upon his arrival in Doha yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar urged immediate action against Israel to “safeguard the global order.” In his remarks at the ministerial meeting, Dar stressed that Israel’s actions have become a constant threat to peace and security.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the unlawful and unprovoked Israeli aggression against the brotherly State of Qatar,” Dar said, reaffirming Islamabad’s stance.
Last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz had also made a solidarity visit to Doha, where he met Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani to denounce Israel’s strike and express Pakistan’s support for Qatar.
