APP
Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar on Tuesday said Pakistan and other Muslim nations had achieved consensus on Gaza, calling the newly unveiled 21-point peace plan a “historic breakthrough.”
Briefing the media on Pakistan’s diplomatic engagements during the 80th UN General Assembly session in New York, Dar said Gaza remained at the core of Islamabad’s agenda. He disclosed that eight Muslim nations had jointly submitted proposals to the U.S. administration, deliberately kept confidential to avoid external interference.
“This was no small agenda. It was Allah’s special blessing that Pakistan was among the countries chosen to play this historic role,” Dar remarked.
Joint Declaration and Peacekeeping Force
Dar confirmed that a joint declaration had already been signed by five countries, including amendments proposed by Pakistan, and welcomed by both Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority. “Some elements are opposing the 21-point plan for political reasons, but Gaza is above politics. The people of Palestine are accepting it, and that is what matters,” he said.
He further revealed that Indonesia had offered 20,000 personnel for a proposed Gaza peacekeeping force, while Pakistan’s leadership would soon decide its own contribution. The plan also envisages a technocratic Palestinian government to oversee reconstruction and ensure stability.
High-Level Engagements at UNGA
Dar said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif actively highlighted the Gaza crisis during his UNGA address and in a series of sideline meetings with world leaders, including a joint session with U.S. President Donald Trump. Leaders from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the UAE, and other Muslim nations collectively called for an immediate ceasefire.
“Gaza has reached a stage where hunger itself is being used as a weapon,” Dar stressed, noting that Muslim nations remained unanimous in demanding a ceasefire, withdrawal of occupying forces, and urgent humanitarian aid.
Broader Diplomatic Outreach
The deputy prime minister added that he held bilateral talks with counterparts from the UK, Germany, Belgium, Canada, and Sri Lanka, and attended meetings of the OIC, Commonwealth, and climate-related forums. “In just five days, Pakistan participated in nearly 18 sideline meetings, ensuring its voice was heard on key global issues,” he said.
Reiterating Pakistan’s long-held position, Dar concluded:
“Our longstanding stance has been a two-state solution. This plan, backed by eight committed nations, is a genuine step toward peace, security, and stability in the region.”
