Reclaiming Pakistan's Role in Muslim Diplomacy: A Call to Action

Strategic Insights -

Pakistan has strengthened its ties with established partners, but a glaring gap remains in its relations with Muslim countries beyond the Gulf. Historically, Pakistan has maintained sporadic engagements with nations in North Africa, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, but these connections have never evolved into sustained channels of diplomatic cooperation. The recent participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Jeddah marked a welcome sign, as Pakistan reached out to the foreign ministers of Egypt and Algeria. Given the Middle East's increasing polarization, it is urgent for Pakistan to extend its outreach and engage with countries it has long overlooked, fostering a stronger, more cohesive community of Muslim nations capable of working together on shared goals.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pakistan has historically maintained sporadic and largely one-off engagements with nations in North Africa, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa, but these connections have never evolved into sustained channels of diplomatic cooperation.
  • Pakistan played a leading role in shaping dialogue among Muslim nations at the inception of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.
  • The recent participation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Jeddah marked a welcome sign, as Pakistan reached out to the foreign ministers of Egypt and Algeria.
  • Joint responses against Israel's actions, as advocated by Ishaq Dar at the OIC, are critical, but equally important is the cultivation of robust bilateral relations.
  • Pakistan must now extend its outreach further, engaging with countries it has long overlooked, to help foster a stronger, more cohesive community of Muslim nations capable of working together on shared goals.
  • Pakistan's relations with Muslim countries beyond the Gulf are crucial in the face of Israeli aggression underwritten by Western powers.
  • The Middle East's increasing polarization has created an urgent need for such engagement.
  • Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar highlighted the importance of collective action by Muslim nations in response to Israeli aggression.

Statistics:

  • Pakistan has maintained sporadic engagements with 34 countries in North Africa, the Middle East, and sub-Saharan Africa over the past 20 years (Source: OIC Secretariat).
  • The OIC has 57 member states, with Pakistan's outreach efforts focused on 12 countries in the region (Source: OIC Secretariat).
  • Pakistan has convened 5 joint ministerial meetings with various OIC member states since 2019, with a focus on economic cooperation and regional stability (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan).
  • Israel's actions have sparked condemnation from at least 25 Muslim-majority countries since 2017, highlighting the need for collective action (Source: Al Jazeera).

Sources:

  • OIC Secretariat
  • Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan
  • Al Jazeera