Foreign Minister Dar arrives in Istanbul for OIC meeting

ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul on Friday to attend the two-day Council of Foreign Ministers meeting of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Foreign Office stated.

The 49th session of the OIC foreign ministers’ conference, scheduled for June 21-22, will bring together top diplomats from Muslim nations to discuss pressing global issues affecting the Islamic world.

During his visit, Dar will also participate in the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum Award ceremony where Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will be honoured with an award, the FO spokesperson added.

The foreign minister’s engagements come as Pakistan continues to play an active role in OIC affairs, particularly on matters related to Muslim unity and global Islamic causes.

Khawaja Asif calls for OIC meeting over Israeli aggression against Iran

The OIC meeting comes at a time when the tensions in the middle east are heightened owing to Iran-Israel conflict entering its second week.

According to Al Arabiya, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also expected to attend the OIC meeting, a Turkish foreign ministry source said on Thursday, as war rages between Israel and Iran. The source said a special session of the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers is expected to focus on Israel’s recent strikes against Iran, including Thursday’s attack on the Khondab nuclear site in Arak.

On June 14, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had urged the Muslim world to unite against Israel’s recent attack on Iran, warning that if the Islamic countries fail to take a collective stand, they could face similar aggression in the future.

Speaking about the National Assembly’s budget session, Asif referenced the overnight Israeli strike on Iran and emphasised the long-standing historical ties between Pakistan and Iran. “At a time when war is raging in the region, it is imperative for Muslim nations to take the lead,” he said.