������Ƶ

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Ambassador Bilal Ahmad, on Tuesday described Israel’s strike on Qatar this month as an attack on the mediation process the Gulf state has been facilitating to secure a Gaza ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Speaking during an urgent debate of the Council on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Ahmad said Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrike on a residential neighborhood in Doha, where Hamas leaders were discussing a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal, amounted to a blatant assault on international efforts to broker peace.

Qatar has played a pivotal role as a mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas and hosts the Palestinian group’s political bureau to facilitate the process. However, Israel said it had targeted Hamas “terrorists” as the United States did when it killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan in May 2011.

“The OIC Group condemns in the strongest terms the Israeli aggression against Qatar on 9 September 2025 in blatant violation of international law and the UN Charter,” the Pakistani diplomat said. “We strongly denounce this attack on the mediation process that Qatar has hosted commendably alongside regional and international countries to address the catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the OPT [Occupied Palestinian Territory], particularly Gaza.”

“This unjustifiable and unprovoked attack constitutes a dangerous escalation threatening the very foundation for the enjoyment of all human rights by all peoples in the region, as well as an attack on the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the State of Qatar under the pretext of countering terrorism,” he added.

Ahmad expressed solidarity with Qatar and supported all steps it may take to protect its security and sovereignty in accordance with the UN Charter.

His statement urged the international community to compel Israel to halt its “dangerous and ongoing attacks” in the region and called on the Council and its mechanisms to ensure accountability for what it described as serial violations of international law.

It said mediation efforts by Qatar and other countries offered “a starting point toward a just and lasting regional peace with equal rights and dignity for all peoples in the region, especially the people under occupation in Palestine.”

Ahmad’s statement came as a UN inquiry commission concluded on Tuesday Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza after Hamas attacked southern Israel in October 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Hamas said the assault was a response to the plight of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.

Israel’s retaliation has since killed about 65,000 residents of Gaza and flattened civilian neighborhoods, while senior Israeli officials have spoken publicly about “erasing” Palestine and displacing its people to other Arab countries.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar backed the idea of a joint Arab security force this week after Israel’s Sept. 9 airstrikes on Qatar, saying that his country was ready to play a role while highlighting its conventional military abilities.

Speaking to Al Jazeera ahead of the emergency Arab-Islamic summit in Doha, Dar said it was vital to strengthen multilateralism to ensure peace for everyone by carrying out institutional reforms at the United Nations.

His remarks came days after Israel targeted a group of Hamas leaders discussing a US-backed Gaza ceasefire proposal by hitting a residential neighborhood in Doha. Qatar has been a key mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas, hosting the Palestinian group’s political bureau as part of the process.

Confirming reports that Arab states were discussing the idea of a combined security force, he said: “Why not? What’s wrong with that? They should [have such a force]. And according to their own capacity, their own strength, they should create some [defense] mechanism.”

Dar maintained such a force would not be developed for offensive purposes but to defend regional states and ensure peace by “stopping the occupier … [and] somebody who just doesn’t listen [to anyone].”

When asked about the role of “nuclear powered Pakistan,” he said his country’s nuclear arsenal was for deterrence but noted Islamabad would stand with Arab states and “discharge its duty” toward the Muslim community.

“Pakistan [has] a very large, known, very effective army, very effective Air Force, very effective Navy,” he added.

Referring to Pakistan’s military standoff with India in May, Dar said his country’s armed forces had proven their worth during the exchange.

Asked if Israel had also targeted Pakistan after Qatar, he said Israel had fully supported India in its war against Pakistan but had seen the results.