Pakistan’s PM discusses Palestine crisis, Islamophobia with ambassadors of MENA countries

Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar speaks during a meeting with Muslim ambassadors of the Middle East and North Africa region at the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad on December 27, 2023. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

Pakistan Prime Minister Anwaar-Ul-Haq Kakar meets Muslim ambassadors of the Middle East and North Africa region at the Prime Minister's Office in Islamabad on December 27, 2023. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

• PM Kakar meets ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt and other countries from MENA region
• Pakistan’s premier urges countries to work closely and collectively, especially through OIC, to combat mutual challenges

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar met Muslim ambassadors of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region on Wednesday to discuss the deteriorating human rights situation in Palestine, Islamophobia, and other issues, a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
Islamabad enjoys fraternal ties with Muslim countries in the MENA region, particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Over three million Pakistani expatriates live in the two countries alone, making them a huge source of remittances for the South Asian country.
Pakistan has consistently lobbied for a cease-fire in Gaza, as the human rights situation in the Middle East worsens. Israel’s defense forces have killed over 20,000 Palestinians and wounded thousands more since Oct. 7, as it mounts air and ground offensives against Hamas.
Kakar met the ambassadors of Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen for lunch on Wednesday, the PMO said.
“The Prime Minister shared Pakistan’s perspective on a number of issues, particularly the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in the occupied Palestinian territories,” the statement said.
“Other challenges confronting the Muslim world such as Islamophobia were also discussed.”
The premier stressed the need for Muslim countries to work closely and collectively, especially through the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on these “complex issues,” the PMO added.
Kakar underscored the importance that Pakistan attaches to fraternal relations with Muslim states, particularly those in the MENA region.
“The Prime Minister praised the Ambassadors for their efforts to forge stronger ties between Islamabad and their respective capitals,” the PMO said.
The ambassadors, in turn, thanked Kakar and reiterated their support toward advancing bilateral relations with Pakistan, the statement said.