Shehbaz to attend Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Egypt on October 13 (Monday) to participate in the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit where he will attend the signing ceremony of the peace agreement aimed at ending the prevailing grave situation in Gaza.

Read more: Hamas to release hostages Monday with no role in Gaza future

Leaders from more than more than 20 countries will attend the much-awaited event which is made possible only after US Donald Trump presented the Gaza peace plan, negotiated and backed by eight influential Muslim states, including Pakistan.

Read more: Hamas ‘very keen’ to reach deal as talks begin in Sharm el-Sheikh

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the prime minister is visiting the Egyptian coastal resort at the invitation of the two presidents — Abdel Fattah El-Sisi of Egypt and Donald Trump of the United States.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other top cabinet members as well as officials will accompany Shehbaz during the visit.

PAKISTAN BACK ON WORLD STAGE

The statement mentioned the efforts made by Pakistan to achieve the goal that may lead to materialising the dream of a Palestinian state under the two-state solution.

It read, “The Sharm El-Sheikh Summit is the result of the diplomatic efforts that began on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly’s 80th Session in New York last month.”

The statement was referring to the September 23 meeting of leaders from the eight Muslim states — Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Indonesia and Turkiye with Trump to explore avenues for achieving peace in Gaza.

Read more: Muslim leaders for Gaza ceasefire, reconstruction, stabilisation

“Through a joint statement, these Arab-Islamic countries welcomed President Trump’s efforts to achieve peace and reaffirmed their joint commitment to work with the United States to achieve comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire and to address the critical humanitarian conditions in Gaza,” said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It noted that the prime minister’s participation in the Sharm El-Sheikh Summit “reflects Pakistan’s historic, consistent, and unwavering support for the just cause of the Palestinian people for their right to self-determination as well as for achieving lasting peace and stability in the region”

Moreover, it also listed the desired goals of Islamabad’s policy goals when it comes to the Palestine issue.

“Pakistan hopes that the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit will pave the way for full Israeli withdrawal, protection of Palestinian civilians, an end to their displacement, release of prisoners, addressing of the prevailing grave humanitarian situation, as well as reconstruction of Gaza.”

Read more: Israel, Hamas sign Gaza ceasefire deal after two years of war

TWO-STATE SOLUTION

Meanwhile, the ultimate objective remains the creation of an independent state — a dream formalised under the Oslo Accords which the world unfortunately could not implement due to the far-right Israeli leadership of Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Pakistan also hopes that such efforts will contribute to a credible political process aimed at achieving an independent, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, based on pre-1967 borders, in line with relevant UN resolutions and the Arab Peace Initiative.”

It’s a developing story. Details to follow.