ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday met Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of an emergency Arab–Islamic Summit in Doha, vowing Pakistan’s full diplomatic support after Israel’s strike on Qatar.
The emergency summit was convened in the Qatari capital following Israel’s Sept. 9 air strikes on Doha that killed at least six people, including Hamas members, sparking condemnation across the Muslim world. Leaders have gathered in Doha to discuss a collective response, with Pakistan seeking to leverage its current non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council to push for action.
“The Prime Minister assured the Saudi Crown Prince of Pakistan’s all out diplomatic support, particularly at the United Nations Security Council ... as well as at all other diplomatic multilateral foras, including the OIC,” the Sharif’s office said.
During the meeting, the PM conveyed his “deep appreciation for HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s bold and sagacious leadership in unifying the Ummah at this critical time.”
He said the convening of the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha had sent out an “important message that Muslims around the world spoke with one voice against Israel’s unlawful and reckless aggression, that threatened regional peace and security.”
The press release said the Saudi Crown Prince expressed his “appreciation for Pakistan’s active diplomatic efforts, including at the UNSC and OIC, to express solidarity with Qatar at this critical time.”
Leaders of Arab and Islamic states will warn that Israel’s attack on Qatar and other “hostile acts” threaten coexistence and efforts to normalize ties in the region, Reuters reported on Monday, based on a draft resolution to be put before the Arab-Islamic summit.
An excerpt of the pre-summit draft resolution seen by Reuters said “the brutal Israeli attack on Qatar and the continuation of Israel’s hostile acts including genocide, ethnic cleansing, starvation, siege, and colonizing activities and expansion policies threatens prospects of peace and coexistence in the region.”
These actions threaten “everything that has been achieved on the path of normalizing ties with Israel including current agreements and future ones,” according to the draft, which was drawn up by foreign ministers meeting ahead of the summit.
