Pakistan tells OIC conference Israeli military actions driving Middle East instability
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday voiced alarm over escalating tensions in the Middle East, blaming Israel's military actions in Gaza and recent strikes in Iran for deepening instability and humanitarian crisis in the region.
Addressing the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers in Istanbul, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated his country's condemnation of Israel's attack on Iran.
The high-level conference comes at a moment of crisis for several OIC member states. Two of the bloc's key countries — Pakistan and Iran — have recently experienced military escalations with regional rivals.
While Pakistan's brief but intense standoff with India ended in a ceasefire last month, Israel's strikes on Iranian nuclear and military facilities, launched more than a week ago, have shown no signs of de-escalation.
'Israeli aggression against Iran is not an isolated event,' Dar said in his address to the forum. 'It is part of a dangerous and consistent pattern of militarism that Israel has demonstrated across the Middle East.'
'Pakistan remains deeply concerned at the escalating tensions, deepening instability and humanitarian crises across the Middle East,' he added. 'What underpins many of these situations is the continued impunity with which Israel is undermining peace and stability of the broader region.'
The Pakistani deputy PM condemned Israel's 'unprovoked aggression' against Iran as a violation of international law and the UN Charter, warning that such actions posed a grave threat to both regional and global peace.
'We can all feel the reverberations of this instability,' he said.
Turning to Gaza, Dar said Israel was waging a 'genocidal campaign' against Palestinians, pointing out that over 55,000 people, mostly women and children, had been killed since the start of the conflict in October 2023.
He noted Israel was deliberately blocking life-saving humanitarian aid and targeting relief workers, leaving millions displaced and entire neighborhoods in ruins.
Calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza, Dar said that lasting peace in the region was impossible without a viable, sovereign Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.
He also referenced last month's military standoff between Pakistan and India, telling the conference participants that Pakistan had shot down six Indian fighter jets in the confrontation.
He said that his country was committed to regional stability and warned that India's unilateral actions — including the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty — were further escalating tensions.
'Pakistan will not allow India to stop water for our people,' he said. 'It will be treated as an act of war.'
Dar also urged the OIC to assert itself as a collective voice for the Muslim world.
'The OIC has a crucial role to play in streamlining the rapidly evolving and deteriorating global order to the benefit of the Muslim world,' he added.
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