Dar to raise Kashmir issue at CHOGM

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar is set to address the long-standing Kashmir dispute at the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM) currently underway in Samoa. This move is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to raise global awareness about the issue and garner support for the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

Highly placed diplomatic sources pointed out that traditionally Pakistan agitated the Kashmir issue on the forum since the dispute is viewed as the legacy of the British Raj. Senator Ishaq Dar who is leading the Pakistan delegation has reached the venue. He is likely to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the margins of the CHOGM including King Charles III and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He will take up subjects of mutual interest and international significance in engagements with fellow heads of delegations.

The event brings together delegations from 56 nations from Africa, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific. Indian Prime Minister Modi has also been invited to the meeting but it is unlikely to turn up. The foreign minister will also present Pakistan’s perspectives on key global issues and challenges with a focus on climate change, economic development, and strengthening international cooperation within the Commonwealth community. In his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum on “Transforming our Workforce”, Ishaq Dar will highlight Pakistan’s emphasis on youth empowerment, skill development, and digital transformation. Dar will also participate in an event to advocate for the health and well-being of girls and women across the Commonwealth. The Foreign Office has said that Pakistan’s participation at CHOGM 2024 reflected its continued commitment to the Commonwealth and its relations with Small Islands and Pacific Countries. He will return to Islamabad enroute Dubai early next week, the sources added.