DPM/FM Dar reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to combating Islamophobia, calls upon global efforts

ISLAMABAD, March 15 (APP): Deputy Prime Minister / Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Sunday, expressed Pakistan’s solidarity with the Muslims worldwide over the issue of Islamophobia and reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to combating prejudice, discrimination, hostility, and violence directed against Muslims. 

In a message on ‘On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia,’ he said Pakistan remained firmly committed to advancing international efforts to counter Islamophobia.  

“In this regard, we are working with OIC Member States and the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia on the development of a UN Plan of Action that would provide a structured framework to better understand, prevent, and eliminate this challenge,” he added. 

Dar stressed that the international community must stand united in condemning Islamophobia while also addressing the structural conditions that allow it to flourish.  

“Pakistan calls upon all nations to undertake sustained efforts to promote mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding among communities, and to uphold the values of tolerance, dignity, and peaceful coexistence,” he further emphasised. 

The DPM/FM said working closely with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Pakistan played a crucial role in the United Nations General Assembly’s historic decision to designate 15 March as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia.  

“This marked an important milestone in the international community’s efforts to promote harmony, tolerance, and peaceful coexistence among religions, cultures, and civilizations,” the Foreign Office Spokesperson, in a press release, quoted the DPM/FM as saying.  

Dar further said Pakistan also played a pivotal role in the adoption of another UN General Assembly resolution aimed at strengthening international efforts to counter Islamophobia, including the request for the appointment of a United Nations Special Envoy to address this challenge.  

In this regard, he said, they welcomed the appointment of the United Nations Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia in May 2025, as well as the appointment of the Special Envoy of the OIC Secretary-General on Combating Islamophobia in May 2024, reflecting the growing international resolve to address this challenge in a coordinated and sustained manner. 

The DPM/FM said in recent years, the alarming rise in Islamophobia has manifested in deeply troubling incidents across many parts of the world, including the desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on women for wearing the hijab, vandalism of mosques, religious profiling, and the open expression of anti-Muslim hatred in public discourse and media.  

Islamophobia exacerbated existing tensions and conflicts, creating a vicious cycle that threatened international peace and security, he added.