Islamabad (TDI): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar told parliament on Friday that the 20-point Gaza peace plan unveiled by US President Donald Trump was “not Pakistan’s” draft, but stressed there was no room for political point-scoring on the issue.
Addressing the National Assembly, Dar said his earlier media briefing in Islamabad had already clarified that Trump’s plan differed from the version prepared by a group of eight Muslim and Arab states. “I made it clear that the 20 points that President Trump made public are not ours. Changes were made to our draft. I have the record,” he said.
Dar explained that foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Türkiye, Jordan, the UAE, and Indonesia had jointly deliberated on Gaza during the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. After consultations, the bloc submitted a “counter draft” to Washington with amendments and deletions reflecting their collective position.
He said President Trump’s team had held “open talks” with the ministers and later used the framework for his 20-point announcement alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29. According to Dar, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister told him that some urgent demands of the eight countries were accepted, while others required further engagement.
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Dar said the joint statement issued after consultations was designed to halt Israel’s bombardment of Gaza at a time when “all other forums had failed.” He added, “Statements will not suffice. We need practical work. This is the end result, and there is no room for politicking.”
Reaffirming Pakistan’s traditional position, Dar said Islamabad’s policy on Palestine “remains that of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah”, backing an independent Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
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On Israel’s interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla earlier this week, Dar confirmed that several ships were seized and activists detained, including former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan. He said a European country was being engaged for his release and further clarity was expected by Sunday.
The deputy premier said Pakistan was actively coordinating with partners to secure the freedom of its nationals aboard the flotilla, adding that protecting the rights of Palestinians and standing with Gaza was “a moral and historical responsibility.”
