Preparations Underway for Deputy PM Ishaq Dar’s Second Foreign Visit of the Year

Islamabad: Preparations are underway for Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar’s second foreign visit of the year.

According to diplomatic sources, final arrangements are being made for his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia later this week. During the trip, Ishaq Dar will represent Pakistan at an extraordinary session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), scheduled to be held on January 10 in Jeddah.

The extraordinary OIC session has been convened in response to Israel’s recognition of Somaliland as an independent country. Most Muslim countries, particularly in the Middle East, including Pakistan, have condemned and rejected Israel’s move.

Diplomatic sources said the meeting will review a joint strategy to counter this latest Israeli initiative, and Pakistan will formally denounce and strongly condemn the action.

Earlier this year, Ishaq Dar began his foreign trips with a visit to China. On January 3, he became the first foreign dignitary to visit China in the new year. On January 4, he participated in high-level Pakistan-China strategic talks in Beijing and was the first foreign leader to meet the Chinese Foreign Minister this year.