- Urges efforts for holding Israel accountable for lethal bombing on Palestinians
- Stresses Israel should realize Gaza war could trigger a spillover effect beyond region
TASHKENT: Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday denounced Israel’s bombardment over Gaza and drew a historical comparison, highlighting similarities between Israel’s actions and those of Pharaoh for killing the children.
The prime minister, in his address at the 16th summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) here, urged the member countries to rally the efforts to hold Israel to account for its incessant and lethal bombing on the Palestinian people.
Pakistan strongly condemns the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
~ Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar while addressing at the 16th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)#ECO_16summit #PMKakarinUzbekistan #Tashkent2023 pic.twitter.com/uz3Mlfk7KU
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 9, 2023
In his wide-ranging address, the prime minister raised the issue of Gaza humanitarian crisis twice and reiterated condemnation of killing of children and women, and targeting of the hospitals.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar Addressed the 16th ECO Summit
The Prime Minister encompassed an array of issues, including the ECO's existing trade and true potential, the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and… pic.twitter.com/FagsrecZ3P
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 9, 2023
“With the elimination of children, I recall in the history when Pharaoh, on the advent of the Moses’ birth killed children. And now, unfortunately, the people who claim to be the followers of Moses, are following the path of Pharaoh,” he remarked.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani, Caretaker Commerce Minister Gohar Ejaz, Caretaker Communications Minister Shahid Ashraf Tarar accompanied the prime minister in the summit held at the Tashkent Convention Center.
In 2022, the trade within the ECO region was recorded at $39 billion against $577 billion with the world and the intraregion exports also stood at $46 billion.
We must adhere to ECO Vision 2025.~ Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar while addressing at the 16th Summit… pic.twitter.com/X6z7ZwKmsu
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 9, 2023
He told the ECO leaders that the incessant and lethal Israeli bombardment on Gaza was a deplorable act calling for international condemnation.
The prime minister said the situation needed to be addressed as per the OIC and UNSC resolutions.
He urged the member countries to push for a ceasefire and support the call for the provision of humanitarian aid, besides rallying efforts to hold Israel to account.
He urged the participating countries and the international community to rally behind to have a humanitarian corridor so that the unfortunate and defenseless people of Palestine could be helped out.
Being blessed with natural resources, geographical linkages and cultural heritage, ECO region had been unable to exploit its true trade potential as it had just two percent share in global trade and eight percent in intraregional trade.
~ Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq… pic.twitter.com/wfgML10y3l
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 9, 2023
Prime Minister Kakar also apprised the regional leaders of the unabated Indian atrocities in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and emphasised ECO countries to support Kashmiris in achieving their right of self-determination.
The Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar addressed the 16th ECO Summit today.#ECO_16summit #PMKakarinUzbekistan #Tashkent2023 pic.twitter.com/NzCIk9Vh93
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 9, 2023
He also touched upon the issues of intolerance, violence and xenophobia and called upon the ECO members and international community to work for building legal deterrence against Islamophobia while maintaining mutual respect, and harmony and co-existence.
The prime minister is on a two-day visit of Uzbekistan mainly to attend the summit, besides engaging with the leaders of different countries to discuss mutual cooperation.
Trans-regional spillover of Gaza war
On the other hand, Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday called for enhanced engagement with the Western capitals to make Israel realize that the Gaza war could trigger a spillover effect beyond the region.
In an interview with Arab News, the prime minister said Western capitals, particularly Washington and London needed to make realise the Israeli side that they were contributing to destabilise the region.
He called for an immediate cessation of violence and labeled Israel’s assault on Gaza genocide, clearly. The prime minister said he would attend an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Sunday in Riyadh to discuss Israel’s attacks on Palestine.
PM Kakar said Israel could not just kill children and say that it had got the right to defend itself. The prime minister said it was the licence to barbaric retaliation. He said the entire Muslim nation should think over about its contribution in science and technology and defence.
The prime minister also criticised governance structures in Muslim nations, saying their challenges were deeper than the mere quagmire of the Palestinian situation.
Meanwhile, the 16th Summit of Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) was in progress in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar was representing Pakistan in the summit.
In his address, the Prime Minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to ECO Vision 2025 and to promotion of regional cooperation in the areas of trade, transport, connectivity, energy, tourism and economic growth and productivity.
Kakar will present Pakistan’s vision for the future work of the organization and promotion of regional connectivity and mutual prosperity. The Prime Minister will attend the reception hosted in honor of the leaders of the ECO countries.
