ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will attend a consultative meeting of the foreign ministers of Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh today, Wednesday, the foreign ministry said, as the Middle East reels from a security crisis due to the ongoing conflict in the region.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry announced in a statement on Wednesday that the consultative meeting aims to strengthen coordination on ways to support the security and stability of the region.
The meeting takes place as Iran ratchets up its attacks against Israel and Gulf countries in the region. Iran carried out several drone and missile attacks against Gulf countries early Wednesday after Israel killed its two top officials a day earlier.
Dar will undertake the visit from Mar. 18-19 at Saudi Arabia’s invitation, the Pakistani foreign office said.
“During the meeting, the DPM/FM will express complete support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of all brotherly countries in the region, and call for an end to all attacks on their territory,” the statement said.
The foreign office said Dar will also reiterate Pakistan’s call for a “swift end” to the ongoing conflict and stress the need for dialogue and diplomacy.
“He will also highlight Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach efforts as well its desire to continue playing a pivotal role toward resolving the prevailing grave security crisis being faced by the region,” the statement concluded.
As Iran continues its strikes against Gulf states, Israel and US interests in the region, airports, including major cargo hubs in Dubai and Doha, have faced repeated closures due to the attacks.
This has disrupted trade, travel and the flow of critical medical supplies in what is being described as the deepest security crisis for the Middle East in years.
The meeting represents a collective Arab and Islamic effort to contain the fallout from the Iran war and chart a path toward de-escalation before the crisis deepens further.
Pakistan has cordial ties with several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, with which Islamabad has a strategic defense pact.
The pact entails that both sides will see an act of aggression against either one as an attack on both.
