ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to travel to Doha on Monday to take part in the Emergency Arab‑Islamic Summit, which Islamabad has helped sponsor, the foreign office has said.
The summit has been called in response to Israel’s airstrikes on the Qatari capital and the worsening situation in Palestine.
The heads of state, government leaders, and senior officials from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member nations are expected to attend, the statement added.
“The Summit has been convened in the wake of Israel’s airstrikes on Doha and the escalating developments in Palestine,” the foreign office said.
“Unlike previous emergency meetings from Muslim platforms that were often delayed, this one has been convened swiftly, reflecting the seriousness of the situation,” Mansoor Jafer, Al-Arabiya Urdu chief, told Pakistan TV, terming Israel as a “bully state.”
He said Qatar’s diplomatic support from Muslim countries and beyond highlights its legitimacy as a mediator and its growing weight in regional diplomacy.
On Sunday, a ministerial meeting of foreign ministers will prepare a draft resolution condemning the Israeli strike on Qatar, according to Majed al‑Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry. Qatar has been vocal in calling the airstrikes an infringement of international law and a direct attack on its sovereignty.
Analysts believe Pakistan’s cosponsorship signals its desire to play a more prominent role in Middle‑East diplomacy. “This is Pakistan drawing a line, it wants its voice heard beyond domestic policy,” said Dr. Luciano Zaccara, Gulf politics expert. “Expect more than expressions of anger. This summit could mark a shift toward coordinated regional pressure.”
Notable leaders expected in Doha include Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan may also attend, though his participation has not yet been confirmed.
Israel’s strikes on Hamas officials in Doha, killing five members and one Qatari security officer, have provoked global condemnation, including from Gulf states that are typically aligned with U.S. policy. Scholars and diplomats argue the summit reflects growing discomfort among Arab nations over what they view as unchecked Israeli military actions.
In the lead‑up to the summit, Pakistan has underlined its commitment to solidarity and regional unity. Islamabad emphasized that Pakistan strongly condemns “Israeli aggression against Qatar and other regional states,” reaffirming its support for the sovereignty and security of its neighbors.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also join the preparatory session of foreign ministers on September 14.
Sharif visited Doha on September 11 to meet Qatari leaders, expressing Pakistan’s “unwavering support for the security and sovereignty of Qatar” and its commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.
