Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Doha, Qatar, to attend a high-level Arab-Islamic emergency summit convened after last week’s Israeli airstrike in Doha targeting leaders of Hamas. The meeting is aimed at forging a united response among Muslim nations.The summit, co-sponsored by Pakistan, is being held under the umbrellas of the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It brings together leaders and senior officials from over 50 member states to discuss how to respond to Israel’s attack and to safeguard the sovereignty of Qatar.The airstrike, which took place on September 9, killed five Hamas members and one Qatari security official. Though the attack missed its target of killing senior leadership, it provoked widespread outrage across the Muslim world.Pakistan has condemned the strike in the strongest terms. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar called the attack a violation of Qatar’s sovereignty and international law. He pushed for action, including forming an Arab-Islamic task force to monitor Israeli actions and take coordinated measures against further aggression.Ahead of the summit, a draft resolution has been prepared with foreign ministers in Doha. It condemns the strike and Israel’s continued expansionist policies, including settlement building in the occupied West Bank. The draft also warns these acts could threaten ongoing attempts at normalization of relations in the region. PM Shehbaz is accompanied by a high-level Pakistani delegation including Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the PM. DPM Ishaq Dar is already in Doha, having attended the foreign ministers’ preparatory meeting, which drew up the draft resolution.Pakistan’s earlier visit to Doha on September 11 had also expressed solidarity with Qatar, reaffirming Islamabad’s support for peace, regional stability and respect for sovereign boundaries.Among demands being pushed by Pakistan and allies: holding Israel accountable for alleged war crimes, ensuring humanitarian access to civilians in Gaza, and pushing for a ceasefire. The summit is expected to issue a resolution reflecting these points.As Muslim leaders gather, the summit is widely seen as a test of regional unity and the seriousness of global diplomacy in response to cross-border attacks. Many hope it will mark a turning point in holding major powers to international norms.
