In the National Assembly of Pakistan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar strongly reiterated Islamabad’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, assuring lawmakers that there has been no deviation from the country’s principled stance.
He argued that the ongoing war in Gaza could only be brought to an end through acceptance of the 20-point framework presented as a peace initiative, which he described as the most viable formula under current circumstances. According to him, it is not about political expediency but about ending the relentless cycle of violence that has engulfed the people of Gaza.
Dar stressed that the central priority must be to halt the killings of innocent civilians and to find a way to prevent the humanitarian tragedy from worsening.
He informed the House that Pakistan, along with seven other Muslim-majority states, had been handed the detailed peace framework, and discussions around it were conducted behind closed doors in a confidential manner. The meetings, he said, were convened at the diplomatic premises of Qatar, with American officials including members of President Donald Trump’s committee participating directly in the talks. Although the plan was drafted in Washington, Pakistan and other states had submitted their own suggestions and amendments to reflect their priorities.
Dar noted that this proposal was not an ordinary diplomatic document but a comprehensive peace structure that included provisions for an immediate ceasefire, prisoner and hostage exchanges, gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, and the establishment of a transitional international administration to pave the way for eventual Palestinian self-governance.
At the international stage, the proposal has sparked a global debate, especially after Trump revealed it in the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. For Pakistan, however, Dar assured that nothing in the deal compromised the long-standing national position.
He categorically stated that Pakistan continues to reject any recognition of Israel until a two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of Palestine is achieved. He dismissed criticism that Islamabad was wavering under foreign pressure, explaining instead that the initiative was an opportunity to reduce suffering and potentially open a path toward lasting peace.
The peace plan is supported by eight Muslim nations, including Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Türkiye, Indonesia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Pakistan. Dar explained that Indonesia had already offered to contribute 20,000 soldiers for the proposed international peacekeeping force, and discussions were underway to determine Pakistan’s role.
The Foreign Minister confirmed that Pakistani leadership was considering sending its own contingent to ensure the safety of Palestinian civilians and assist in the stabilization process. According to him, these steps could become decisive in rebuilding destroyed infrastructure in Gaza and giving war-weary families a chance to breathe in relative security.
Dar recalled that attempts by international bodies such as the United Nations and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation had repeatedly failed to enforce a workable ceasefire. Endless sessions, condemnations, and draft resolutions had produced little tangible relief for Palestinians.
For that reason, he argued, engaging with Washington on this framework was pragmatic rather than political surrender. “If we reject this, we allow the bloodshed to continue without any alternative in sight,” he told parliamentarians. He emphasized that this is not a shift in foreign policy, but rather a diplomatic tool to prevent further devastation.
During the same assembly session, another development was discussed that revealed the complexities of Pakistan’s foreign and domestic political landscape. Dar addressed the recently signed Strategic Mutual Defense Agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, describing it as a landmark arrangement that had been under careful negotiation for a long period. He explained that under this pact, any aggression against either nation would automatically be treated as aggression against both, reflecting a level of military cooperation comparable to NATO-style alliances.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had signed the agreement in Riyadh at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, formalizing a security partnership that could shape the strategic balance in the region. Dar noted that several other countries had quietly approached Pakistan during the United Nations General Assembly sessions to explore the possibility of joining such an alliance, which could, in the future, transform into a broader defense network.
As these weighty matters were being discussed, the National Assembly session itself was marked by tension on the domestic political front. Members of the Pakistan Peoples Party staged a walkout in protest over grievances with their coalition partner, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. The dispute, which had earlier flared over flood compensation and later deepened into arguments about water distribution along the Indus River, resurfaced during the session. PPP leader Naveed Qamar announced the boycott of proceedings, while journalists inside the press gallery staged a parallel protest against the police raid on the National Press Club.
However, as Dar continued his address, some PPP lawmakers returned to the chamber, greeted by applause, and he expressed hope that inter-party differences could be bridged through dialogue at the leadership level.
In addition to these matters, Dar highlighted the plight of Pakistani citizens detained by Israeli authorities following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which had set sail in an attempt to break the blockade of Gaza. Among the detained was former senator and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mushtaq Ahmad, who was heading the Pakistani delegation. Reports indicated that more than 400 individuals from various countries, including high-profile activists such as Greta Thunberg, were aboard the flotilla when it was seized.
Dar informed the assembly that Islamabad had already initiated contact with a European state to negotiate the release of its nationals. He described the arrest of peaceful flotilla members as an unjustified act that highlighted the continued suppression of international solidarity movements in support of Palestine.
Throughout his remarks, Dar sought to maintain a balance between addressing Pakistan’s role in international diplomacy and responding to domestic criticisms. He was adamant that neither the defense pact with Saudi Arabia nor the engagement with Washington on Gaza implied a retreat from the country’s traditional policies.
On Palestine, he declared that the guiding principle remained unchanged: unwavering support for a sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital. On the strategic front, he portrayed the Saudi pact as a long overdue consolidation of an already deep-rooted partnership between the two brotherly countries.
What emerged from the parliamentary session was a picture of Pakistan simultaneously navigating international peace initiatives, regional defense alignments, and internal coalition politics. The Deputy Prime Minister left no doubt that his government views the American-sponsored 20-point plan as a pragmatic opportunity to halt the Gaza war, while reaffirming that Pakistan’s ideological commitment to the Palestinian cause remains steadfast.
At the same time, the formalization of the Saudi defense pact was presented as a protective shield not only for the two states but potentially as a cornerstone for a larger alliance. With PPP’s temporary walkout and civil society protests also shaping the atmosphere in the National Assembly, the day underscored the complex interplay of diplomacy, defense, and domestic politics now facing Pakistan’s leadership.