Pakistan deputy PM arrives in Istanbul for OIC session amid Iran-Israel conflict
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul on Friday to attend the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers, his office said, as Israel and Iran continue to engage in military conflict while the humanitarian situation in Gaza deteriorates.
The 51st session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions between Iran and Israel, the two regional rivals, along with the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The meeting comes at a time when Middle East tensions are high, with Iran and Israel trading missiles and strikes for seven days now. Pakistan has condemned Israel for launching a surprise attack on Iran's nuclear facilities and military leadership last Friday, calling for peace and diplomacy to resolve the issue.
'Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, arrived in Istanbul to participate in the 51st Session of the Council of the Foreign Minister (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held on 21-22 June 2025 and to attend the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum award ceremony where President Erdogan will be honored,' the Foreign Office said in a press release.
Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, arrived in Istanbul to participate in the 51st Session of the Council of the Foreign Minister (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) being held on 21-22 June 2025 and to attend the… pic.twitter.com/OR0jqPZK5Q
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) June 20, 2025
The Pakistani foreign office said Dar was received by Pakistan's Ambassador to Turkiye, Dr. Yousaf Junaid, Consul General Nauman Aslam and the Turkish ministry of foreign affairs representatives.
'During the plenary session, the DPM/FM will share Pakistan's perspective on the developments in South Asia following the ceasefire arrangement between Pakistan and India and the situation in the Middle East after Israel's recent aggression against Iran and other regional states,' the foreign office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, said in a statement on Thursday.
He added that Dar would advocate for peace in the Middle East and highlight the need for humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza during the meeting on June 21 and 22.
Beyond the Middle East, Dar is also expected to address broader issues of concern to the Muslim world, urging the international community to 'combat the escalating tide of Islamophobia' by addressing rising extremism and militancy, as well as the growing threat of climate change.
He will also reaffirm Pakistan's commitment to the principles and objectives of the OIC in addressing challenges faced by Muslim nations globally.
Dar, who also holds the portfolio of foreign minister, is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other OIC member states on the sidelines of the conference.
The high-level meeting is taking place amid media reports that the United States is weighing options, including potentially joining Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pakistan eases visa rules for Afghan transporters, drivers to improve trade amid deportation drive
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will issue multiple-entry visas valid for one year to Afghan drivers and transporters to facilitate cross-border trade, its embassy in Kabul announced on Friday, amid an ongoing campaign to deport undocumented Afghan nationals. Afghan drivers play a vital role in bilateral and transit trade between the two countries. Under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA), Afghan transporters are allowed to move goods between Pakistani ports and their countries major cities like Kandahar, Jalalabad and Kabul. The Pakistan government's decision to issue visas comes at a time when the government has repatriated 979,486 Afghan nationals since launching a deportation drive in 2023 over security concerns. 'The Government of Pakistan has decided to issue multiple-entry visas of one-year validity to Afghan drivers and transporters,' the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul said in a post on X. 'The visa fee for this category would be $100.' Government of Pakistan has decided to issue multiple-entry visas of one-year validity to Afghan drivers and transporters. The visa fee for this category would be USD 100. Please apply for Work (Transit/Transport) visa at * Applicants are required to… — Pakistan Embassy Afghanistan (@PakinAfg) June 20, 2025 The new visa policy is likely to benefit ongoing trade flows, especially as Pakistan remains a primary corridor for Afghanistan's access to international markets. Afghan trucks are permitted to transport goods under the APTTA framework, including third-country imports destined for Afghanistan. Applicants for the new visa will be required to upload a photograph, a scanned copy of their passport, Afghanistan's national identity document, a valid temporary admission document, an employment letter from a registered transport company or an authority letter from a transport operator and a valid driving license. Pakistan's deportation policy in 2023 followed a spike in militant attacks, particularly in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that borders Afghanistan. Islamabad has previously linked such attacks and other crimes to Afghan nationals, who make up the largest migrant population in the country, though Kabul has denied any nexus between the two. Despite tensions, both countries have recently taken steps to restore diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Israeli defense minister warns Hezbollah against joining conflict with Iran
JERUSALEM: Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Lebanon's Hezbollah to exercise caution on Friday, saying Israel's patience with 'terrorists' who threaten it had worn thin. The head of Iran-backed Hezbollah, Naim Qassem, said on Thursday that the Lebanese group would act as it saw fit in the face of what he called 'brutal Israeli-American aggression' against Iran. In other statements, the group has made no explicit pledge to join the fighting and a Hezbollah official told Reuters last week that the group did not intend to initiate attacks against Israel.
Argaam
2 hours ago
- Argaam
Oil prices drop 2%, head for weekly gains
Oil prices were mixed on Friday, after the White House delayed a decision on potential US intervention in the Iran-Israel conflict. Despite the volatility, the prices are on track for weekly gains. Brent crude futures for August delivery fell by 2.1%, or $1.65, to $77.20 a barrel at 8:10 AM Makkah time. Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) futures for August—the most actively traded contract—rose 0.65%, or 47 cents, to $73.97 a barrel. This came after a White House statement saying President Donald Trump would decide within the next two weeks whether the US will intervene in the ongoing Middle East conflict, according to Reuters. Chinese customs data released today showed fuel oil imports reached 1.30 million tons in May, equivalent to about 267,000 barrels per day—down 29% from April and 40% lower than the same period last year.
