Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said &quot;the Muslim world must move beyond words,&quot;&nbsp;hinting at joining forces if a Middle East coalition is formed to counter Israeli aggression. &quot;Pakistan has a very large, known, very effective army, very effective air force, very effective navy &hellip; We have proved that we can beat [our opponent] even conventionally, if challenged,&quot;&nbsp;Ishaq Dar said during an interview with Al Jazeera, when asked how Pakistan might respond if a united Middle Eastern body were formed to counter Israeli aggression.&nbsp;The interview, recorded ahead of the recently concluded Arab-Islamic summit, following Israel&rsquo;s strikes in Qatar and published late Monday night, featured Dar sharing his views about a possible Muslim coalition against Israel&rsquo;s aggression.&nbsp;Asked if the formation of a united body in the Middle East, away from the United Nations&#39; structure, to intervene in Gaza was an option, Dar said, &ldquo;vis-&agrave;-vis the UN Security Council, a mechanism could be chalked out.&rdquo;&nbsp;<div style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0.5em; margin-bottom: 0.5em; line-height: 2;" id="isPasted">He stated that the UNSC can impose severe economic sanctions.&nbsp;It can cause a &quot;very severe economic dent or pain,&quot; he added.</div>&nbsp;&ldquo;There has been some talk of a &lsquo;combined security force&rsquo; among Arab nations and the Arab League,&rdquo; Dar revealed. &ldquo;Why not? They should form a force, not for aggression, but for peacekeeping and for stopping the aggressor, the occupier, the one who doesn&rsquo;t listen,&rdquo; Dar said.&nbsp;Asked where the nuclear-powered Pakistan would stand in such a scenario, Dar said Pakistan&rsquo;s nuclear arsenal is intended only as a deterrent, not a weapon of first use.&nbsp;&nbsp;The UN has failed to maintain peace Earlier in the interview, Dar also addressed Israel&rsquo;s recent strike in Qatar that targeted Hamas leaders in Doha. He called the attack &ldquo;baseless&rdquo; and &ldquo;rogue,&rdquo; stressing that Qatar was mediating peace efforts alongside the US and Egypt at the time.&nbsp;He pointed to a broader pattern of Israel striking various Middle Eastern countries and ignoring international norms. &ldquo;International law, humanitarian rules, OIC and UN resolutions seem not to affect one country that repeatedly acts however it wants.&rdquo;&nbsp;Dar argued this underscores the urgent need for UN reform. &ldquo;The UN Security Council is supposed to maintain peace. But if its resolutions are being discarded by Israel in Gaza and Palestine, and by India in Kashmir, what do we expect from the multilateral system?&rdquo; &nbsp;&ldquo;This is the need of the hour,&rdquo; Dar emphasized, hinting at legal, diplomatic, and financial measures that Islamic countries may collectively consider.

Middle East

Pakistani foreign minister says that while the UNSC can impose serious economic sanctions, it has largely failed to deter aggressor nations like Israel.

Pakistan ready to act if Muslim coalition is formed against Israel: Dar

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran called for increased cooperation among Arab and Muslim states following Israel&rsquo;s recent airstrike targeting Hamas leaders in Qatar. Pakistan proposed the formation of a joint task force, while Iran called for the establishment of &ldquo;joint operations rooms&rdquo; to counter escalating Israeli aggression. Their proposals come ahead of an emergency Arab-Islamic summit scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. in Doha (8 p.m. PKT). Nearly 60 Arab and Islamic countries will convene to condemn the Israeli aggression and show solidarity with Qatar. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1967287260388471097&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3bf6bc7387a33991ee425fbbd28c925568bbe357&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 624px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1967287260388471097"></iframe></div></div> Israeli strikes on DohaThe summit was convened in response to Israel&rsquo;s airstrikes on September 9, which targeted Hamas leaders attending ceasefire talks in Doha. The attack resulted in the deaths of five Hamas members, including the son of a senior leader, as well as a Qatari security officer. Several civilians were also injured. The attack was widely condemned across the Muslim world as a violation of Qatar&rsquo;s sovereignty and an infringement of international law. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammad al-Thani strongly denounced the strike as an act of &ldquo;state terrorism.&rdquo; He accused Israel of seeking to uproot Palestinians from their own homeland. He called on the international community to end double standards and hold the Israeli regime accountable for what he described as genocidal wars. Pakistan proposes a joint task forcePakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar condemned the Israeli airstrike as illegal and in violation of the United Nations Charter and international laws. He proposed the establishment of a joint Arab-Islamic task force charged with monitoring Israeli intentions and coordinating both deterrent and offensive actions. Dar described the attack on Qatar, a sovereign state engaged in ceasefire negotiations, as an assault on diplomacy itself. He called for an immediate ceasefire, a prisoner exchange, and the establishment of a two-state solution. The Pakistani deputy PM demanded that Israel be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Pakistan, alongside Algeria and Somalia, also raised the issue with the U.N. Security Council and Human Rights Council, advocating for practical measures including the deployment of an international peacekeeping force in Gaza. Iran calls for &#39;joint operations rooms&#39;The Secretary of Iran&rsquo;s Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani, sharply criticized Muslim states over perceived inaction regarding the Gaza conflict. In a statement shared via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), he called for, &ldquo;at the very least, establishing a &lsquo;joint operations room&rsquo; against the madness of this entity,&rdquo; referring to Israel. Larijani warned that conferences filled only with rhetoric but lacking tangible outcomes invite further Israeli aggression. He urged Muslim states to unite in practical, coordinated resistance, asserting that such a move could destabilize the Israeli regime and compel change. Summit draft resolutionA draft resolution from the summit described the Israeli strike as a destabilizing escalation. It accused Israel of carrying out genocidal acts, ethnic cleansing, and colonial expansion that threaten peace prospects and normalization agreements in the region, such as the Abraham Accords, signed five years ago to normalize relations between Israel and several Gulf states. Convening of the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for the Joint Arab-Islamic Emergency Summit in Doha to Discuss the Israeli Attack on the State of Qatar, image courtesy: <a data-fr-linked="true" href="//OIC.com" style="font-size: 18px; color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">OIC.com</a> Despite strong condemnation from the Arab-Islamic world, Israel maintained a defiant stance. On the day Arab ministers convened in Doha, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem.&nbsp; Rubio&rsquo;s visit aimed to &lsquo;clarify&rsquo; Israel&rsquo;s strategy regarding Gaza, the ongoing hostage situation, and humanitarian plans amid lingering tensions caused by the unauthorized airstrike in Qatar. Ongoing attacks in Gaza and the West BankMeanwhile, Gaza continues to endure heavy bombardment. Recent Israeli airstrikes have destroyed multiple high-rise buildings, forcing evacuations of civilians with often little notice. Palestinian health officials report that over 64,000 Palestinians have died since the conflict escalated, including over 18,000 children. Several international media outlets have also reported an uptick in attacks on Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. The United Arab Emirates, which normalized relations with Israel in 2020, warned against annexation plans in the West Bank. It described such moves as a &ldquo;red line&rdquo; threatening hopes for peace. While the Arab-Islamic summit is expected to adopt a joint resolution condemning Israel&rsquo;s strike, it currently does not include sanctions or punitive measure.

Arab-Islamic Summit: Pakistan calls for joint task force, Iran urges ‘operations rooms’ against Israel, image courtesy: OIC

Asia

Arab-Islamic Summit: Iran, Pakistan propose concrete measures against Israel 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar received a phone call from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Pakistani Foreign Office said Saturday, signaling ongoing progress in relations between Islamabad and Washington. &ldquo;The two officials expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral ties, reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation, and discussed various regional and international matters,&rdquo; the statement added. However, the foreign office did not provide specific details about the conversation.&nbsp;This call follows a period of warming relations between the two countries, a notable shift after years of diplomatic distancing. On September 9, Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also spoke to Secretary Rubio, during which they exchanged views on bilateral matters and ongoing regional issues.&nbsp;The improving relationship comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump&rsquo;s intervention earlier this year, when he brokered a ceasefire between Pakistan and India after a brief but intense four-day military conflict along their shared border in May. The clash resulted in over 70 casualties on both sides and heightened tensions in the region.&nbsp;In June 2025, Pakistan&rsquo;s army chief was invited to an unprecedented lunch at the White House hosted by President Trump, where they discussed the Iran-Israel conflict and other regional security concerns. This event marked a high-level engagement between the U.S. and Pakistan military leadership, further emphasizing the thaw in relations.&nbsp;Trade relations have also been a key component of the renewed partnership. Just last week, Pakistan announced the finalization of a &ldquo;landmark&rdquo; trade deal with the U.S. aimed at reducing tariffs and deepening economic ties between the two nations. Concurrently, President Trump unveiled a new partnership to develop Pakistan&rsquo;s oil reserves, signaling increased U.S. investment and cooperation in the South Asian country&rsquo;s energy sector.&nbsp;In their recent conversation, Rubio and Dar covered a range of bilateral matters and regional challenges, with both sides agreeing to maintain ongoing dialogue and cooperation on shared interests. Analysts view these exchanges as part of a broader diplomatic reset after years of estrangement, particularly following the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan in 2021, which led to a decline in high-level communications.&nbsp;For Pakistan, the U.S. remains a critical economic partner. Official data shows that Pakistan&rsquo;s exports to the U.S. reached $5.44 billion in the fiscal year 2023-2024, with a 10 percent increase recorded from July 2024 to February 2025 compared to the previous year. These figures highlight the importance of the U.S. market for Pakistan&rsquo;s export-driven economic growth.&nbsp;Facing a prolonged macroeconomic crisis, Pakistan has prioritized enhancing trade and foreign investment to stabilize its economy. While inflation rates have eased in recent years, the government is focused on achieving sustained growth through exports and comprehensive financial reforms.&nbsp;The ongoing dialogue between Secretary Rubio and Foreign Minister Dar reflects both countries&rsquo; commitment to building a more cooperative relationship grounded in economic partnership, security cooperation, and regional stability. As the two nations continue to strengthen ties, observers will be watching closely for further developments in trade agreements and diplomatic engagements.

Politics

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar discuss strengthening bilateral relations, trade cooperation, and regional security amid improving ties.

Articles tagged with "Ishaq Dar"

Pakistan ready to act if Muslim coalition is formed against Israel: Dar

Arab-Islamic Summit: Iran, Pakistan propose concrete measures against Israel

U.S., Pakistan discuss strengthening ties and regional cooperation