PM Shehbaz to Attend Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha After Israeli Attack on Qatar
DOHA: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will join leaders from nearly 50 countries at the Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha today, where participants are set to review a draft resolution responding to the recent Israeli strike in Qatar.
The high-level meeting, convened under the umbrella of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), is expected to bring together heads of state, senior ministers, and top officials from across the Muslim world.
Pakistan’s Role
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has already been in Doha, where he actively took part in the OIC foreign ministers’ session on Sunday. That meeting shaped the draft resolution, which Pakistan has co-sponsored, to be discussed by leaders during today’s summit.
The summit comes after an Israeli strike on September 9 killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. The incident occurred while Qatar was engaged in ceasefire mediation efforts in Gaza, drawing widespread condemnation from the international community.
Regional Impact
Analysts say the summit aims to send a united message of solidarity with Qatar while highlighting the urgency of peace in the region. The attack has also tested Gulf-Israel ties, particularly with the UAE, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020.
Diplomats told Dawn that leaders may also consider advancing Palestinian statehood discussions at the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York.
World Leaders Expected
Apart from PM Shehbaz, attendees include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to Turkish media.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Doha on Sunday. It remains unclear if Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will participate, though he visited Qatar earlier in the week in a show of support.
Pakistan’s Strong Stance
Speaking at a ministerial meeting in Doha yesterday, Ishaq Dar urged urgent action against what he called “unprovoked Israeli aggression.”
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest terms the illegal attack against the brotherly State of Qatar,” he said, warning that continued instability in the region threatens global peace and security.
Last week, PM Shehbaz made a brief visit to Doha where he met Qatari Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with Qatar.
✅ Summary: The Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha is set to rally support for Qatar and discuss regional peace efforts, with Pakistan playing a prominent role.
