‘Not the plan we endorsed’ says Dar as he defends Pakistan’s Gaza stance | The Express Tribune

ISLAMABAD:

The 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump this week does not align with the draft proposed by a coalition of Arab and other Islamic countries, according to Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.

Delivering a policy speech on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday, Dar, however, clarified that eight Muslim countries, including Pakistan, have endorsed Trump’s plan, viewing it as the only viable option to halt the ongoing bloodshed in Gaza under the current circumstances.

The US president announced the 20-point Gaza peace plan alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, which was immediately welcomed by several countries, including Pakistan. However, later on, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt, issued a separate joint statement clarifying the bloc’s position.

Ishaq Dar, who is also the deputy prime minister, tried to placate the opposition and critics by providing insight into backdoor talks and other efforts to end the Gaza conflict. He also confirmed that the plan presented by Trump was not the one that “we (the eight Islamic countries)” had endorsed.

Dar stated that following the Trump-Netanyahu presser at the White House, he received a message from his Saudi counterpart, who informed him that “while many aspects of Trump’s proposed draft have been accepted, there are some points on which further discussions with him will be necessary.”

The Saudi foreign minister’s position was that at that moment they had two options: either object to Trump’s 20-point draft and give Israel an excuse to shed more blood in Gaza, or suggest that Muslim and Arab countries issue a joint statement. Such a statement, he said, should be placed on record and also sent to the Trump administration.

In the assembly, Dar also read out the joint statement again which, according to him, included points such as the two-state solution to the conflict and Israel’s complete withdrawal from occupied Gaza. The statement also affirmed that the West Bank would be considered part of Gaza.

According to him, the joint statement demanded an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, reconstruction and complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.

“We alone are not in a position to stop this war. On this matter, even the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the United Nations, and the Security Council have failed. If we tried to carve out some way forward, it should be welcomed,” Dar said.

In response to criticism over why the prime minister welcomed Trump’s plan despite it not reflecting the views of Muslim countries, he replied, “Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was not expected to have divine foresight to know that President Trump’s 20-point plan differed from the one we had endorsed. As soon as we reviewed the draft, we immediately issued our own statement on the matter.”

Dar’s statement came at a time when opposition parties in Pakistan are criticising the government’s endorsement of Trump’s draft on Gaza. The foreign minister also emphatically stated that Pakistan was not going to be part of any Abraham Accord nor would it recognise Israel.

Dar also apprised the National Assembly of “Pakistan’s active engagement” during the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. He highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s impactful statement on Palestine, Jammu & Kashmir, climate justice, reform of global financial systems, and the urgency of sustainable development.

Dar also underlined Pakistan’s extensive diplomatic outreach, participation in high-level events and sideline bilateral meetings, constructive role in advancing peace efforts, and principled advocacy for the rights of the Palestinian and Kashmiri people.

He reiterated Pakistan’s consistent and principled position: the two-state solution is the only viable path to a just and lasting peace, through the establishment of a contiguous, independent and sovereign State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

He condemned the unlawful interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla by Israeli occupying forces, terming it a blatant violation of international maritime law and humanitarian principles.

He assured the House that Pakistan is actively pursuing diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety and safe return of its nationals on board.