Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday arrived in Istanbul to participate in a meeting hosted by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye Hakan Fidan to discuss the recent developments in Gaza.

Upon arrival, he was received by Director General MFA Protocol Ambassador Ahmet Cemil Miroglu and officials of the Pakistan Embassy.

According to diplomatic sources, Dar will attend a conference on the Gaza situation being held in Istanbul, where foreign ministers from eight key Muslim countries — Pakistan, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, and Jordan — will participate.

The meeting aims to devise a joint strategy to ensure the implementation of the Gaza ceasefire and the smooth delivery of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.

The ministers are also expected to review obstacles in aid delivery, Israel’s continued aggression, and its violations of ceasefire commitments.

During the visit, Dar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the UAE, and other participating countries on the sidelines of the conference.

Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said that Pakistan would reiterate its full support for the ceasefire agreement, demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the occupied Palestinian territories, and reaffirm its stance on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

Andrabi added that Pakistan, along with seven Arab and Islamic countries, is playing an active role in efforts to ensure peace in Gaza and facilitate the reconstruction process.

He emphasised that Pakistan supports the free flow of humanitarian aid, Gaza’s rebuilding, and justice for the Palestinian people.

Meanwhile, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told reporters that the Istanbul conference will also discuss the establishment of a “Gaza Task Force” and a “Stabilisation Force” to ensure the Gaza ceasefire implementation and reconstruction.

He said Israel remains the biggest obstacle to relief operations in Gaza.

Despite the US-brokered truce, Israeli violations have continued, resulting in the killing of at least 236 Palestinians and injuries to more than 600 since the ceasefire began.