The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Mohammed Ishaq Dar, met with the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hussein Brahim Taha, on the sidelines of the 15th Islamic Summit held in Banjul, The Gambia, on Thursday.
Discussions focused on the fight against extremism and terrorism, highlighting the need for a unified approach.
The Deputy Prime Minister shared his concern about the rise of Islamophobia in Pakistan, which is reflected in the increasing number of incidents of discrimination, violence and incitement against Muslims worldwide.
He stressed the need for joint action to combat Islamophobia, especially in the context of Israeli aggression against the Palestinians, which has led to an increase in Islamophobic and xenophobic actions around the world.
He also briefed the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on the situation in India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the excessive use of force by Indian security forces there.
Noting the historical role of the OIC in supporting the just struggle of the people of Kashmir, he appreciated the role of the OIC Contact Group on Kashmir, the Special Representative for Kashmir and the OIC’s monitoring of the human rights situation at the ICC.
Taking this opportunity, the OIC Secretary General reiterated the OIC’s support to the people of Kashmir and their right to self-determination as enshrined in various UN resolutions.
Senator Dar reiterated Pakistan’s principled position and called for Israel’s complete withdrawal from all occupied Arab territories including Jerusalem, the restoration of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the right of return to Palestine, and the establishment of an independent homeland. Delimitation of Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the pre-June 1967 capital of Palestine.
The Deputy Prime Minister also appreciated the efforts and initiatives of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Middle East and expressed Pakistan’s support for these initiatives.
