By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan supports Iran’s call for an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) after the assassination of Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said on Saturday.
Iran’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani had demanded an extraordinary meeting of OIC foreign ministers earlier in the day, and later contacted Dar with a request to participate.
“The Deputy Prime Minister fully supported this call and confirmed that Pakistan would actively participate in the important meeting,” the foreign office said in a social media post.
During their phone call, Kani shared Iran’s “deep anguish” over the assassination of the Hamas leader, the foreign office said.
“Acting Foreign Minister of Iran Ali Bagheri Kani called the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar today and shared the Iranian nation’s and leadership’s deep anguish on the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on the occasion of the inauguration of the President of Iran,” the foreign office said.
Dar conveyed similar sentiments while also condemning the developments in Gaza, where Palestinians have been targeted by Israel’s war machine since last October.
“The Deputy Prime Minister conveyed similar sentiments and Pakistan’s condemnation of the developments in Gaza and the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh in the strongest possible terms, a heinous act also unanimously condemned by the National Assembly of Pakistan.”
Haniyeh was assassinated in Tehran on July 31, sparking widespread condemnation. Iran has vowed to retaliate against Israel, which has been accused of carrying out the attack.
The situation has raised fears of a broader regional conflict, with the United States deploying additional warships and fighter jets to the Middle East.
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