Pakistan Reaffirms Sudan’s Unity Amid Escalating Civil War Risks

Islamabad — Pakistan affirmed its backing of Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity on Friday, as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met with Sudan’s visiting interior minister in Islamabad. The meeting comes amid heightened fears that the ongoing civil war and the emergence of a rival administration could permanently fragment the African nation.

Since April 2023, Sudan has been mired in fighting between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The RSF now controls much of western Darfur and has set up a parallel administration, prompting concerns that the country could break apart. Both the United Nations Security Council and the African Union have repudiated this rival government.

Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced on X that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Sudan’s Federal Minister of Interior, H.E. Mr. Babaker Samra Mustafa Ali, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today.

During the meeting, the DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for Sudan’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Dar underscored Pakistan’s dedication to deepening ties with Sudan. The Sudanese minister, in turn, expressed gratitude for Islamabad’s support and solidarity, and indicated his government’s interest in broadening cooperation across sectors of mutual benefit, according to the statement.

The visiting minister represents the internationally recognized, army-aligned administration led by General Abdel Fattah al‑Burhan, whose forces have been battling the RSF for over three years.

The war has displaced more than 14 million people, generating one of the gravest humanitarian emergencies on the planet. Sudan’s army retains control of the capital Khartoum and large swaths of the north, east and centre, whereas the RSF dominates most of Darfur and significant areas of neighbouring Kordofan.

Earlier this week, the African Union Peace and Security Council and several members of the UN Security Council reiterated their rejection of the parallel administration, cautioning that unilateral actions that undermine Sudan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity could deepen the country’s fragmentation.

On Thursday, the Sudanese minister also conferred with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Sharif voiced optimism that Sudan would recover as a peaceful, stable nation and urged enhanced bilateral collaboration in trade, investment, agriculture, defence and education.

Pakistan has supplied humanitarian and medical aid to Sudan, an official statement released after the Thursday meetings indicated.

Source link