ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani this week, condemning Israel’s airstrikes in Doha and urging unity among Muslim nations amid escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Sharif arrived in Doha on Monday to attend an emergency Arab-Islamic summit convened after Israel’s September 9 strike targeting Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital. Hamas said five of its members were killed, though its leadership survived. The attack drew sharp criticism from Arab Gulf states, who pledged a united response at the summit.
The Pakistani premier, accompanied by Deputy PM Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met Sheikh Tamim on the sidelines of the gathering, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“The Prime Minister stressed that Israel’s aggression in the Middle East must be stopped immediately, and unity within the Ummah was vitally important in the face of repeated Israeli provocations,” the PMO statement read.
Sharif voiced solidarity with Qatar, calling the strike a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sheikh Tamim thanked Sharif for attending the summit and for visiting Doha on September 12 to show support. Both leaders agreed to remain in close contact as the regional situation develops, the PMO added.
Sharif Calls for Arab-Islamic Task Force
At the summit, Sharif proposed the creation of an Arab-Islamic task force to counter what he described as Israel’s “expansionist designs.” He also demanded that Israel’s membership of the United Nations be suspended.
“Pakistan reiterates that Israel must be held accountable for its war crimes against humanity,” Sharif said. “We call for the establishment of an Arab-Islamic task force and support the OIC’s demand to suspend Israel’s UN membership.”
Sharif further condemned Israel’s military offensives in Gaza. Since the war erupted in October 2023, nearly 65,000 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed, according to local authorities. Pakistan has consistently denounced the campaign as “war crimes” and called for accountability.
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