Pakistan PM urges OIC to stand united, strong against common challenges
Says group must to work for ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
Islamabad: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan urged the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries to stand strong and “united” stand against common challenges and assert their collective voice to stop injustice in the world.
“...I am sad to say that we have been able to make no impact at all” Pakistani prime minister said on Tuesday. “We [Muslims] are 1.5 billion people and yet our voice to stop blatant injustice is insignificant,” he urged the OIC states to have a “united front” and work jointly for peace and development.
Khan made the remarks during his keynote address at the 48th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers (OIC-CFM) in Islamabad from March 22-23. This year’s conference theme is “Partnering for Unity, Justice and Development.”
Over 700 foreign delegates and more than 30 foreign ministers from 62 countries are participating in the summit. The 48th OIC foreign minister’s conference coincides with the Pakistan Day parade held on March 23 every year. The OIC guests will be attending the parade as “guests of honour”. The speakers thanked Pakistan for the hospitality and invitation extended to attend the Pakistan Day parade.
Speaking at the inaugural session, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha stressed for collective voice and action to address the multiple challenges. He expressed serious concerns over human rights abuses and violations of international laws and resolutions in occupied territories. He called for collaboration with the international community to combat the issue of Islamophobia.
In his address, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud said his country believes in the OIC’s role in consolidating Islamic solidarity and protecting common interests. He recalled that the OIC extraordinary session held in December 2021 in Islamabad led to the establishment of the humanitarian trust fund for Afghanistan to support the Afghan people.
Saudi foreign minister reaffirmed his country’s support for Palestinians. He described the continued escalation by Houthi rebels as a threat to the region. President Islamic Development Bank Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser said the bank is firmly committed to supporting green and sustainable infrastructure development for productivity.
Ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine
Pakistan PM Khan asked OIC members to mediate and help “bring about a ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine. Khan suggested that the OIC foreign ministers should discuss how the 57-member Muslim organisation could “mediate, to bring about a ceasefire and put an end to the conflict.”
Khan said he would also discuss with the Chinese foreign minister how Beijing, together with the OIC, could help resolve the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking of the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, PM Khan said peaceful and stable Afghanistan “is the only way to stop international terrorism” emanating from Afghan soil and called on the world to engage with Afghans to save them from a humanitarian crisis.
Special guest
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who attended the gathering as a special guest of OIC, expressed China’s desire to build partnerships with the Islamic world for peace, stability and development. Wang Yi said that his presence at the OIC summit reflected the strong desire of China and the Islamic world to further deepen cooperation.
Collective action urged
In his opening remarks as chair of the conference, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi described OIC as “the collective voice of nearly 2 billion Muslims” and “a bridge among Muslim nations and between the Muslim world and the international community.”
Detailing some of the current challenges such as Ukraine conflicts, East-West tensions, destabilising global arms race, COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and rising oil prices, he urged for unity and collective action by the OIC to address the challenges and conflicts. Today, more than 60 per cent of all conflicts in the world exist in Muslim countries, he deplored.
“From Yemen to Syria to the Sahel, the range of conflicts in the Muslim world and their intensity is palpable. More than two-thirds of all refugees worldwide come from just five countries: Syria, Afghanistan, South Sudan, Myanmar, and Somalia. Muslim countries are hosting the largest number of refugees” he said, stressing “comprehensive engagement and cooperation among the Islamic countries.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in his video message at the OIC summit said that in recent years, UN and OIC have deepened collaboration on key areas of mutual concern including mediation, countering terrorism and violent extremism, combatting anti-Muslim hatred. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tileuberdi addressed the summit on behalf of the Asia Group of OIC while Foreign Minister of Tunisia Othman Jerandi, who spoke on behalf of the Arab Group, demanded a peaceful and political resolution of all disputes in the region.
Nigeria’s Minister of State Foreign Affairs Zubairu Dada, who spoke on behalf of Africa Group, reminded the OIC states that more than 3 million people have been displaced in the Lake Chad region due to violence by Boko Haram terrorist group. “OIC must not abandon these people. They are in dire need of your assistance” he said, insisting for mobilisation of funds for relief efforts.
