ISLAMABAD: Saudi foreign minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al-Saud called on Pakistan Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Monday night, ahead of the 48th Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council of Foreign Ministers being hosted by Islamabad, today, Tuesday. 

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan is expected to deliver a keynote address at the inaugural session of the two-day event.

The two-day conference this year coincides with Pakistan Day, celebrated each year to commemorate the Lahore Resolution, which laid the foundation for a Muslim-majority state in South Asia. Visiting dignitaries will attend a military parade in Rawalpindi as “guests of honour.”

A statement by the Pakistan army said the Saudi dignitary and Pakistan army chief discussed “matters of mutual interest, regional security, current situation in Afghanistan and bilateral defense relations.”

“Referring to OIC’s 48th Council of Foreign Ministers session, COAS termed it a historic development for bringing international community to a shared vision and joint strategy to find solution to emerging challenges vital for peace and stability,” the army statement said.

“The visiting dignitary appreciated Pakistan’s role in Afghan situation, special efforts for border management, role in regional stability and pledged to play his part for further improvement in diplomatic cooperation with Pakistan at all levels. He especially appreciated Pakistan’s efforts for hosting the OIC’s 48th Council of Foreign Ministers.”

In an oped written exclusively for Arab News this week, the Pakistani prime minister said the convening of the conference in Islamabad “is an extraordinary display of Muslim solidarity with Pakistan.”

Pakistani foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi will chair this year’s conference, where the Saudi foreign minister, OIC general secretary, chairman Islamic Development Bank and foreign minister of China, who is attending as a special guest, will deliver statements on the first day of the event. 

On the second day, Wednesday, Qureshi and the OIC secretary general are expected to hold a joint press stakeout. 

"The CFM assumes special significance given the backdrop of opportunities and challenges before the Muslim world in the political, security, social and economic spheres," the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement earlier this week. 

"Apart from an appraisal of the global and regional landscapes, the CFM will inter alia reaffirm the longstanding solidarity and support of its membership with the people of Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir; reiterate its resolve to combat rising Islamophobia; and discuss strategies to counter the effects of climate change, vaccine inequity and erosion in progress towards SDGs (sustainable development goals)."

This week’s OIC session will review and assess the "grave human rights and humanitarian situation” in Indian-administered Kashmir, with the ministerial meeting of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir taking place on the sidelines, the statement said. 

The ministerial meeting will also take stock of decisions taken at the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC-CFM held in Islamabad in December 2021 to address the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. The 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers will consider and adopt over 100 resolutions on a broad range of issues, including peace and security, economic development, cultural and scientific cooperation, and humanitarian, legal, administrative and financial matters. 

Senior officials from non-OIC countries, the United Nations system, regional and international organizations, including the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council, are also participating, the foreign office has said. 

"The hosting of this CFM by Pakistan represents an enduring tradition of convening high-level OIC summits and ministerial meetings since the establishment of the organization," the statement read. "It also reflects the abiding commitment of the people of Pakistan to promote the bonds of Muslim fraternity and foster cooperative partnerships."