Islamabad, Pakistan – 2025-10-01
Foreign Minister Slams Trump Plan, Insists on Muslim Bloc’s Core Demands
Pakistan’s foreign policy on the volatile Gaza conflict has taken a sharp turn this week, with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar leading a forceful, public pushback against the details of US President Donald Trump’s proposed 20-point peace plan.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, Minister Dar effectively rejected the notion that the plan, which calls for Hamas’s disarmament and an internationally supervised technocratic government, reflected Pakistan’s official stance.
“This is not our document, which we sent to them,” Dar clarified, following widespread domestic outrage over earlier reports that suggested Pakistan’s top leadership, including the Prime Minister and the Army Chief, had fully endorsed the proposal. “Our position is aligned with the joint statement from eight countries. If there is any difference anywhere, we would go by, we are committed to this [joint statement].”
Plan Accused of Ignoring Key Muslim Priorities
The Pakistani Foreign Minister disclosed that a preparatory meeting involving President Trump and leaders from eight Muslim nations—including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, and Pakistan—had taken place on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. The Muslim bloc’s objective was clear: to secure a ceasefire, ensure humanitarian aid flows, and prevent the annexation of Palestinian land.
However, Dar indicated that revisions inserted into the final White House version, reportedly at Israel’s request, fundamentally undermined the core priorities of the Muslim world. The Minister stated that the document released by the US “does not include all of our proposals,” implying a sense of diplomatic betrayal and leading to the strong public disavowal.
Critics in Pakistan, including opposition politicians and activists, have harshly condemned the plan, calling it a “two-state surrender” that strips Palestinians of sovereignty and imposes conditions, such as the exclusion of Hamas from any future governance, that they argue are designed to fail.
The Foreign Minister’s intervention appears to be an act of damage control, aiming to realign Pakistan’s position with its historic, unyielding support for Palestinian rights and a two-state solution. Dar stressed that Pakistan had formally requested that any future peacekeeping arrangement for Gaza—which could include a multi-national force—must be documented and clearly mandated by the UN Security Council.
The diplomatic spat highlights the deep skepticism and unease within the Muslim world regarding the viability of a US-led peace plan that is not seen as guaranteeing justice for the Palestinian people.
Headline Points:
* Official Rejection: Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, has effectively distanced the country from the US President Donald Trump’s recently unveiled 20-point peace plan for Gaza, stating emphatically, “This is not our document.”
* Critique of Contents: Dar indicated the final US version of the proposal did not reflect the consensus and amendments submitted by Pakistan and a bloc of Muslim nations, suggesting the plan is heavily tilted against Palestinian interests.
* Unwavering Demands: The Minister reiterated Pakistan’s core demands for a durable ceasefire, immediate and unfettered humanitarian aid, an end to the forced displacement of Palestinians, and a halt to the annexation of Palestinian land.
* Domestic Backlash: The public distancing follows intense domestic criticism against the Pakistani government for initially appearing to endorse the plan, with critics branding the move a “two-state surrender.”
* Two-State Solution: Islamabad reaffirmed its long-standing position in support of a comprehensive, just, and lasting two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders.
