ISLAMABAD, May 14: The 34th annual session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) opens here on Tuesday to discuss the multiple challenges faced by the Ummah and to find a way forward.

The three-day conference to be held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in

Islamabad will bring together over 600 delegates from 57 member States of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC). It will also be attended by delegates from observer states, the organisation and other subsidiary as well as specialised organs of the OIC.

President Gen Pervez Musharraf is expected to inaugurate the opening session on Tuesday morning.

The conference, being billed as the Session of Peace, Progress and Harmony, will be chaired by Foreign Minister Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri.

Taking place at a time when the Muslim Ummah is under attack and being targeted under the garb of ‘war on terror’ it is likely to call for bridging the sharp divisions within the Muslim world.