ISLAMABAD: As a conference of foreign ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation concluded in Islamabad on Wednesday, member states called for the “immediate cessation of hostilities” in Ukraine and offered to mediate dialogue with Russia, which invaded the Eastern European nation one month ago today, Thursday.
In his keynote address on Tuesday, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also suggested that close ally China and Islamic countries mediate in the Russia-Ukraine war and try to bring about a cease-fire.
Pakistan hosted the OIC’s 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers on March 22-23, which more than 600 delegates attended, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as a special guest.
In an “Islamabad Declaration” passed at the end of the conference, OIC member states expressed “deep concern at the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation arising from the conflict in Ukraine.”
“Having deliberated on the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine at the 48th Session of Council of Foreign Ministers, we call for an immediate cessation of hostilities to prevent further loss of life and ensure that the humanitarian crisis does not worsen in Ukraine,” the declaration said.
“We stress the need for the establishment humanitarian corridors to ensure safe movement of civilians from active conflict zones and the provision of humanitarian supplies.”
The OIC urged both sides to engage in “meaningful dialogue” with the purpose of finding a solution.
“We express the willingness of OIC member states to support and facilitate the dialogue process between all sides, if requested,” the declaration added.
The OIC’s declaration comes as Ukraine President Volodymr Zelensky called on people worldwide to gather in public today, Thursday, to show support for his embattled country on the one-month anniversary of the Russian invasion.
“Come to your squares, your streets. Make yourselves visible and heard,” Zelensky said in English during an emotional video address late Wednesday that was recorded in the dark near the presidential offices in Kyiv. “Say that people matter. Freedom matters. Peace matters. Ukraine matters.”
When Russia unleashed its invasion on February 24 in Europe’s biggest offensive since World War II, a swift toppling of Ukraine’s government seemed likely. But with Wednesday marking four full weeks of fighting, Moscow is bogged down in a grinding military campaign.
NATO estimated that up to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in four weeks of war in Ukraine, where fierce resistance has denied Moscow the lightning victory it sought.
Islamabad Declaration: OIC calls for ‘immediate cessation of hostilities’ in Ukraine, offers to mediate
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Islamabad Declaration: OIC calls for ‘immediate cessation of hostilities’ in Ukraine, offers to mediate
- OIC declaration comes as Ukraine’s Zelensky called on people worldwide to gather today, Thursday, to show support for his country
- Thursday marks one-month anniversary of Russian invasion, NATO estimated up to 15,000 Russian soldiers killed in four weeks
Captain Agha reiterates Pakistan’s refusal to play India at the T20 World Cup
- India vs. Pakistan is usually the showpiece match in world tournaments, with the eyeballs on it rising into the hundreds of millions
- The boycott has caused an uproar and the International Cricket Council is trying to resolve the issue with the Pakistan Cricket Board
COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has reiterated that his team will abide by his government’s ruling not to play India in the much-anticipated Twenty20 World Cup fixture next week.
India vs. Pakistan is usually the showpiece match in world tournaments — the eyeballs on it rise into the hundreds of millions. The boycott has caused an uproar and the International Cricket Council is trying to resolve the problem with the Pakistan Cricket Board.
At a captains’ media conference on Thursday, Agha repeated the team will follow its government’s advice.
“The India game is not in our control,” Agha said. “The government has decided and we respect that. Whatever they are saying we’ll do.
“We are playing three other (group) games and we are excited about that.”
Pakistan’s World Cup opener is against the Netherlands on Saturday in Colombo. It will play all of its games in co-host Sri Lanka. Namibia and the United States are also in the group. The India game is scheduled for Feb. 15 in Colombo.
In Mumbai, India captain Suryakumar Yadav said they were going to Colombo whether the match was on or not.
“(Our) mindset is pretty clear,” Yadav said. “We did not refuse to play them. The refusal came from them. ICC organized the fixture. BCCI and (Indian) government decided to play in neutral venue in coordination with ICC. Our flight to Colombo is booked. So we are going. We’ll see what happens later.”
The Pakistan government decision came after Bangladesh was kicked out of the World Cup by the ICC. Bangladesh refused to play in India for security reasons and wanted its games moved to Sri Lanka but the ICC dismissed those concerns.
Agha said he was saddened that Bangladesh wasn’t playing in the World Cup for the first time and asked Bangladeshi fans to back his team.
Pakistan has accused the ICC of double standards and not accommodating security concerns. India and Pakistan do not play in each other’s territory and meet in ICC tournaments only at neutral venues.
Their countries are embroiled in military and diplomatic tensions which have spilled into sports for more than a decade. Last year at the men’s Asian Cup and Women’s World Cup, the teams did not shake hands when they met.
