President Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan ‘not ours’, says Dar

Islamabad (Reuters): The 20 points that US President Donald Trump announced as part of his Gaza plan this week were not in line with the draft proposed by a group of Muslim-majority countries, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Friday.

Changes were made in the plan, Dar told Pakistani lawmakers in parliament.

“I have made it clear that these 20 points which Trump has made public are not ours. These are not the same as ours. I say that some changes have been made in it, in the draft we had,” he said.

Trump published on Monday the plan that would end the war between Israel and Hamas and require the return of all hostages living and dead within 72 hours of a ceasefire.

The plan leaves many details for negotiators to hash out and hinges on acceptance by Hamas who launched the war against Israel on October 7, 2023. It refers to a redeveloped Gaza as “New Gaza.”

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has firmly ruled out any deviation from Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s policy on Palestine.

Speaking on the floor of the National Assembly on Friday, he reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering demand for an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with Quds al-Sharif as its capital.

Regarding the strategic agreement between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, Ishaq Dar stated that the pact clearly affirms that an attack on one country will be considered an assault on the other. He described it as a great honour for Pakistan to become part of the defenders of Harmain Sharifain.

The Deputy Prime Minister further disclosed that several nations, both Arab and non-Arab Islamic countries, have expressed interest in signing similar agreements with Pakistan.

He expressed confidence that Pakistan will one day lead the Islamic world. He emphasized that while Pakistan is already a nuclear and missile power, it must now strive to become an economic power as well, an ambition achievable only through collective effort.

Addressing the arrest of former Senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan and other Pakistani citizens detained by Israeli authorities, Ishaq Dar explained that approximately forty-five flotillas were carrying humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. He added that Mushtaq Ahmed Khan was detained from one of the 25 flotillas intercepted by Israel.

The Deputy Prime Minister assured the House that all possible measures are being taken to ensure the safe recovery and return of all detained Pakistanis, including Mushtaq Ahmed Khan.

He elaborated that Pakistan has engaged an influential European country to intervene in the matter and facilitate the safe repatriation of its citizens who were aboard the flotillas captured by Israeli forces.

Earlier, the House offered fateha for the departed souls of various people, including personnel of the security forces, who embraced martyrdom in defence of the motherland.

Ali Muhammad Khan led the fateha.

The House will now meet on Monday at five in the evening.