ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Saturday to discuss regional developments and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two leaders reviewed diplomatic efforts among eight Arab-Islamic countries and the United States in New York, focused on achieving an immediate and durable ceasefire and ensuring unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians in Gaza.
Dar appreciated Saudi Arabia’s constructive role and continued engagement in advancing peace efforts. Both sides also discussed recent developments, including Hamas’s response to a US peace proposal, which they described as a hopeful step toward ending hostilities.
The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to the Palestinian cause and expressed support for all regional and international initiatives aimed at securing a comprehensive and lasting peace.
Both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination with Arab and Islamic partners, as well as the international community, to promote a just resolution of the conflict based on the two-state solution.
'Key areas' not addressed
On Tuesday, Dar clarified Pakistan’s position on the Gaza peace plan presented by the US and Israel earlier this week, saying the proposal did not address “key areas.”
The 20-point plan, supported by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, disarmament, and a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. US President Donald Trump said his administration was waiting for Hamas to accept the plan.
Pakistan’s stance
Speaking to reporters in Islamabad, Dar said the document did not reflect several crucial points discussed in the joint commitment issued by the foreign ministers of eight Muslim-majority countries. “If these issues are not addressed, they will be,” he said, emphasizing the group’s immediate goal of stopping displacement, ending the bloodshed, and ensuring humanitarian access to Gaza.
He stressed that Pakistan’s stance was aligned with the joint position of the eight countries and was not an independent statement. “This is the collective commitment of eight countries, not just mine or the Prime Minister’s,” Dar said.
Earlier, a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Indonesia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan welcomed the US initiative and lauded President Trump’s “sincere efforts to end the war.”
