India is hosting a high-level Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting after nearly a decade, with representatives from 22 countries participating. The conference focuses on Gaza’s reconstruction, regional conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, and Libya, and broader cooperation in economy, energy, and education.
Arab League Foreign Ministers Gather in India After a Decade
New Delhi: A crucial meeting of the League of Arab States (LAS) Foreign Ministers is being held in India on Saturday. This meeting, taking place after a gap of nearly a decade, is expected to feature intense discussions on the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip and regional peace. Amid the evolving political situation in the Middle East, tensions between Iran and the US, and the Gaza crisis, the conference is considered diplomatically significant.
According to official sources, the meeting will discuss the reconstruction of Gaza, as well as the ongoing regional conflicts in Yemen, Sudan, and Libya. A review of the decisions taken at the previous Arab League meeting in Bahrain in 2016 is also on the agenda. A common roadmap will be developed to strengthen economic, energy, education, culture, and media cooperation among member states.
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A key feature of this meeting is the participation of Libya's internationally recognized government. Libyan Foreign Minister Eltaher is attending an international conference for the first time since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. This is considered the first foreign visit by a Libyan government minister in the last 15 years.
This conference is taking place at a time when Pakistan is trying to unite Muslim countries under its leadership. Pakistan is also exploring the possibility of selling JF-17 fighter jets to Khalifa Haftar, the influential leader in eastern Libya. Meanwhile, the US is playing an active role in the "Board of Peace" initiative to restore peace in Gaza, further increasing the strategic importance of this meeting.
The 22 member countries of the Arab League are India's major trading partners. Bilateral trade between India and these countries is estimated to be approximately $240 billion. Furthermore, important trade routes for India, such as the Suez Canal, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden, pass through these countries. In such a scenario, hosting the Arab League in India has profound diplomatic and economic implications.
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Arab League officials met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the Foreign Ministers' meeting. Meanwhile, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit held a bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to discuss regional and global issues.
