Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan H E Ishaq Dar
Doha, Qatar: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan HE Ishaq Dar has said that the Arab–Islamic Summit, for which leaders of Muslim countries are gathering in Doha, has the potential to become a turning point in the region’s history.
“The coming together of so many leaders at such short notice is a powerful demonstration of unity, underscoring that no rogue entity can be allowed to threaten the peace and stability of the region, assume hegemonic control, or dictate terms,” Dar said in an exclusive interview with The Peninsula.
Ishaq Dar yesterday participated in the preparatory ministerial meeting of the summit. When asked whether any joint action plan will compel Israel to halt its attacks on Arab-Islamic countries, he said, "Had the Israeli occupying forces shown even the slightest respect for international law, established norms, human rights, and human dignity, dialogue would have been preferred. However, through their repeated actions, they have made it clear that they hold no regard for any principle or law.”
He added, “The action plan, therefore, is not about what the Israeli occupying forces will or will not do. It is about what we, members of the Muslim Ummah, must do. We are hopeful that the outcome of this Summit will be a concrete, practical, pragmatic, and enforceable plan of action.”
On Pakistan’s response to the brutal Israeli aggression against Qatar, Dar said that Pakistan has strongly and unequivocally condemned the Israeli occupying forces’ airstrike on Qatar, a brotherly and peaceful nation as well as a trusted mediator.
“The repeated Israeli attacks against sovereign states in the region, including Qatar, are a matter of grave concern not only for Pakistan but also for the wider international community. These provocations represent a dangerous pattern that threatens regional peace and security.”
The Israeli attack on Qatar, he asserted, is a blatant violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as international law, the UN Charter, and the established norms governing inter-state relations.
“This irresponsible action is yet another manifestation of Israel’s continued disregard for international peace and security, and its policy of destabilising the region.”
The Deputy PM further said: “Israel’s attempts to derail peace efforts, by attacking a country that has played a constructive mediating role and by targeting the very individuals engaged in negotiations, are clear evidence of its mala fide intention to perpetuate the crisis in pursuit of the insatiable expansionist ambitions of its unscrupulous leadership.”
He said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan led a high-level delegation to Doha a day after the strikes, and met with the Qatari leadership to express Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity. “I am here to participate in the preparatory Ministerial Meeting, and the Prime Minister will lead Pakistan’s delegation to the emergency Arab-Islamic Summit scheduled for today in Doha, where he will reaffirm our principled position in support of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Qatar.”
During the UN Security Council emergency session, he said, which was requested by Pakistan and other Muslim countries, Pakistan reiterated its strong condemnation of Israel’s state terrorism and denounced Israel as “an aggressor,” “an occupier,” and “a serial violator of the UN Charter.”
He said that the Muslim world remains united in its demand for an immediate end to Israeli hostilities and for respect for international law and the UN Charter.
To another question about steps needed to be taken to stop ongoing Israeli assaults on Arab states, he replied: “The Arab–Islamic Summit, is a powerful demonstration of our unity. Let us wait for the outcome of the Arab-Islamic Summit. You would find answers to this and many other questions in the shape of the action plan.”
On the legal and diplomatic steps taken by Qatar in response to the Israeli attack, he said that Qatar’s response to the Israeli airstrike on its capital has been swift, strategic, measured and assertive. “The response has been calibrated, favouring law and diplomacy over force and threats. Qatar has made it unequivocally clear that its sovereignty and territorial integrity are non- negotiable, and it continues to enjoy both regional and global support.”
To another question about Israel’s political bullying, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister said that Pakistan views Israel’s declaration of extraterritorial operations as a grave concern for regional and international peace and security. “This is not just policy – it is political bullying that blatantly violates state sovereignty, the UN Charter, and international law.”
“We understand such intimidation well. Having faced decades of regional aggression ourselves, we saw clearly in recent past the era of the political bully is finite. False pride and military power can shatter in hours; aggression is ultimately a mark of weakness, not strength. Such actions erode diplomatic trust and set a perilous precedent, enabling states to justify foreign assassinations under the hollow guise of counterterrorism.”
When asked whether absence of a unified Arab and Islamic stance against Israeli aggression and the genocide in Gaza embolden Israel to escalate its attacks, he said that Israel’s ability to act with impunity has been sustained primarily by enablers that have granted it the space to disregard international law and shielded it from accountability.
“At times, varying national interests, domestic priorities, and geopolitical constraints have influenced the pace and character of the Muslim world’s collective response. However, this is now changing, with a growing recognition that unity among Arab and Islamic nations is vital to confronting these challenges.”
“The Arab and Islamic unity is strengthening and the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha reflects a deepening resolve to forge a collective, pragmatic action plan to counter Israel’s violations, including its genocide in Gaza. Global momentum is also shifting, with several nations denouncing Israel’s actions, the European Union considering sanctions, and others severing economic ties. Pakistan remains steadfast in its call for unity, for accountability for Israel’s war crimes, and for an end to its aggression so that peace and justice may be restored in the region.”
On Israel’s arrogance and disregard for international law and its institutions, he said that the violations of human rights, the killing of the innocents, collective punishment, forced starvation and mass displacement, all constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity.
“It is bewildering, shocking and deeply disturbing to see how Israel is brazenly perpetrating genocide and writing a new history in the horrors of mankind. We stand at a critical juncture where all efforts to appeal to reason have been exhausted. If we choose to remain silent today, it would be the death of humanity. You have asked me several questions; I’ll now leave you with just one: ‘Has humanity come to an end?’”
