Islamabad: Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has been actively engaging in diplomatic discussions with leaders and representatives from various nations during his participation in the 15th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit in Banjul, Gambia.
Arriving in the West African nation on Wednesday, Dar has been leading Pakistan’s delegation, aiming to highlight the critical issues of Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) within the OIC forum.
One notable meeting occurred between Dar and Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, where the two officials emphasized the close ties between their countries and pledged to bolster cooperation across economic, trade, and defense sectors.
Similarly, Dar held talks with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, focusing on deepening bilateral cooperation in various fields such as trade, connectivity, energy, and people-to-people contacts. Both sides stressed the importance of maintaining a robust political dialogue.
Additionally, Dar extended congratulations to Azerbaijan for winning the bid to host COP29 and expressed Pakistan’s eagerness to collaborate on addressing climate change issues. He also appreciated Baku’s steadfast support regarding the situation in IIOJK.
Dar’s engagements underscore Pakistan’s commitment to fostering stronger ties with OIC member states and addressing pressing issues facing the Muslim Ummah. Earlier discussions with delegates from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, and Qatar highlighted mutual efforts to enhance strategic and economic partnerships, including calls for a ceasefire in Gaza and addressing challenges such as Islamophobia and the situations in Palestine and Kashmir.
