OIC meets today to discuss Gaza situation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan says it has high hopes from the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit that is taking place in Riyadh today (Saturday) to discuss the situation in Gaza in detail and come up with a consensus document.

“There are a number of proposals which are under discussion at the level of senior officials and later today the foreign ministers are also going to discuss. Pakistan will support the consensus that emerges from the OIC. Our objective is clear. Our objective is to end the carnage that is taking place in Gaza, the forced displacement of people must end, the siege must be lifted, and the people of Gaza must have access to humanitarian assistance,” said the spokesperson at the Foreign Office.

Though the OIC consensus document like those resolutions coming from UN are non-bind, it nevertheless, sends a strong message to Palestine and Israel.

Pakistan is also wary that the continuing threats from Israel do not extend beyond Gaza to the West Bank and the neighboring countries of Palestine.

When questioned at the media briefing whether Pakistan is preparing to send a medical team to Gaza, she responded, “First, Pakistan does not have access to Gaza. As you know Gaza is under siege. Pakistan has sent humanitarian assistance, but at this point there are no plans for sending any medical teams to Gaza.”

To a query asking what Pakistan was hoping for in this conflict situation, the spokesperson said, “We believe that there should be ceasefire. We believe that people of Palestine have a right to live as a free people and the occupation must end. The idea of trusteeship is decades old and it is no longer valid in today’s age. For the time being there is only one question which is being debated which we have been unable to resolve as international community and that is the question of ceasefire. That is the top priority for Pakistan and should be the top priority for the United Nations Security Council as well.”

Without naming countries that are publicly supporting Israel in the ongoing genocide, she said, “We have said earlier and I said today as well, we urge the backers of Israel to urge Israel to end its campaign of horror and carnage against the people of Gaza and urge and press Israel to agree to a ceasefire so that the people of Gaza have access to humanitarian assistance, and that they can live peacefully in their own land.”

Meanwhile, there are no indications so far that caretaker Prime Minister Kakar will have a bilateral meeting on sidelines of the OIC meeting on Saturday.

“You know it’s not a bilateral visit. It is an OIC summit and there will be a number of leaders there. The visit is very short and during that visit there may be some bilateral or sideline meetings depending on the time available and the window available for such meetings during this important multilateral conference.”

To several questions once again, on Pakistan’s recent policy to ask all illegal migrants to return home, the spokesperson appeared to be fed up as she responded, “I feel like a broken record, but anyway. First, we have said that we are not repatriating individuals who are here legally or who enjoy refugee status and even those Afghans nationals with Nadra issued cards about Afghanistan, I think prime minister spoke very clearly and our position is that like any two sovereign countries, the movement of individuals between Pakistan and Afghanistan should take place as per international norms. Any individual who wishes to come to Pakistan from Afghanistan or from another country should do so on their passports and in accordance to the visa regime that is applicable.”

She added that Pakistan’ position is that it is not about individuals who have been here for generations. It is about individuals who are here illegally and have stayed here in violation of our immigration laws.

“And as I said earlier, this is not just about the Afghan nationals but individuals of all ethnicities and nationalities who are overstaying their visas. Why we are doing it is something that has been explained by the prime minister in his media briefing on Wednesday. In that statement, he explained that it is the sovereign right of Pakistan to implement its laws and that is what we are doing.”

Meanwhile, a clear message was sent when the FO spokesperson said that Pakistan’s friendliness is towards the people of Afghanistan and their heart pains when we see the people of Afghanistan, facing difficulties because of war, strife, economic hardship, and Pakistan has therefore spoken about the humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan and about peace and stability in Afghanistan.

“That is something that Pakistan will continue to do so because we believe peace and stability in Afghanistan is essential for a peaceful neighborhood for Pakistan as well. We will also continue to speak for humanitarian assistance for the people of Afghanistan,” she said. Meanwhile, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday left for Saudi Arabia to represent Pakistan at the OIC emergency meeting. During his three-day official visit, he will also hold sideline meetings with the visiting heads of state and government from other countries. Saudi Arabia has convened the extraordinary summit of the OIC to discuss the escalating situation in Gaza.