ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday urged member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to mediate and help 鈥渂ring about a ceasefire鈥� between Russia and Ukraine.

More than 600 delegates from 56 OIC member states and observer countries are participating in the body鈥檚 48th Council of Foreign Ministers session being held in Islamabad from March 22 to 23. The theme of this year鈥檚 conference is 鈥淧artnering for Unity, Justice, and Development.鈥�

Though Russian troops have failed to capture any major Ukrainian city more than four weeks into their invasion, they are increasingly now resorting to causing massive destruction to residential areas using air strikes, long-range missiles and artillery.

鈥淲e, like everyone else in the world, are all worried about what鈥檚 happening there (in Ukraine),鈥� Khan said. 鈥淢ay I suggest that the OIC, during its discussions, the foreign ministers, we should think how we represent 1.5 billion people, how we can mediate, how we can bring about a ceasefire, how can we bring about an end to the conflict.鈥�

On Feb. 24, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drawing widespread condemnation from countries around the world and triggering a wave of international sanctions against Moscow. Pakistan remains one of the few countries in the world that has refrained from condemning Russia directly, though it has called for the use of diplomacy to deescalate the crisis. 

During Tuesday鈥檚 address, Khan said he would hold a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the OIC summit to discuss how Beijing, together with the OIC, could help resolve the conflict.

鈥淭his conflict will have great consequences for the world,鈥� he warned, adding that Pakistan was already suffering as oil, wheat and gas prices had shot up in the country in the wake of the Russian invasion.

Khan also spoke about a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August last year, the aid-dependent country was cut off from billions of dollars in international assistance and financial institutions, while nearly $10 billion of its assets were frozen by the US, triggering a banking crisis.

Khan said Afghanistan was reeling from sanctions and called on the international community to engage with Afghans to save them from a humanitarian catastrophe.

Khan also said 鈥渨e (OIC) have failed both the Palestinians and the people of Kashmir.鈥�

鈥淚 am sad to say that we have been able to make no impact at all,鈥� he said, adding that Muslim countries were 鈥渁 divided house.鈥�

In his opening remarks as chair of the conference, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi warned about the 鈥渢hreat of genocide鈥� faced by the Muslims of Indian-administered Kashmir.

鈥淭he threat of genocide is most imminent,鈥� he said.

Kashmiri territory has long been a flashpoint between India and Pakistan. Both claim all of the region but rule only in part.

Qureshi said the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had 鈥渦nleashed a reign of terror鈥� since August 2019 when it withdrew Kashmir鈥檚 autonomy in order to tighten the central government鈥檚 grip over the region, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade.

He called on the OIC member states to partner with the international community and take 鈥渃oncrete and tangible鈥� steps for the resolution of the conflicts in Kashmir, as well as Palestine.

After Qureshi鈥檚 speech, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan delivered his opening statement, announcing 鈥渟upport to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.鈥�

鈥淲e also support the efforts made by the international community to reach a just solution for the Jammu and Kashmir issue,鈥� he said.

Prince Faisal also condemned the aggression of the Houthi rebels in Yemen and called on Muslim nations to apply more pressure on the group.

鈥淚n line (with) international resolutions, 黑料社区 calls (for measures) to neutralize (the) Houthi groups and wants to stop the importing of arms in Yemen,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e reiterate the importance of the role of brothers to (apply) more pressure on (the) Houthis so that they can be stopped from jeopardizing the security of the Kingdom.鈥�