ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani in Doha, where he condemned Israel’s airstrikes and urged Muslim nations to unite against growing tensions in the Middle East.
Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Doha on Monday to attend an emergency Arab-Islamic summit, convened after Israel struck Hamas leaders in the Qatari capital on September 9. Hamas confirmed five of its members died in the attack but said its leadership survived. The strike galvanized Arab Gulf states to form a united front against Israel at the summit.
During his meeting with the Qatari Emir on the summit’s sidelines, Shehbaz Sharif, joined by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, emphasised the urgency of halting Israel’s aggression in the region. He highlighted that unity within the Ummah was essential in the face of repeated Israeli provocations.
The premier expressed solidarity with Qatar, condemning the attack as a “flagrant violation” of its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Sheikh Tamim appreciated Sharif’s participation in the summit and his solidarity visit to Doha on September 12. Both leaders agreed to maintain close contact as the situation unfolds.
Call for Arab-Islamic Task Force
At the summit, Shehbaz Sharif urged the creation of an Arab-Islamic task force to counter Israel’s “expansionist designs” in the Middle East. He also demanded the suspension of Israel’s UN membership, accusing the state of war crimes against humanity.
“Israel must be held accountable for its crimes. Pakistan reiterates the urgent need for an Arab-Islamic task force to adopt effective measures against Israeli expansionist plans,” Sharif said.
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He further criticized Israel’s continued offensives in Gaza, which have killed nearly 65,000 people—mostly women and children—since October 2023. Pakistan has consistently condemned the operations and called for global accountability of Israel’s actions.
