Pakistan
condemns
Gaza siege
Israeli aggression; demands right of self-determination to Palestinians: FM
Ansar M Bhatti/DNA
ISLAMABAD, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani expressed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of the ongoing siege of Gaza, highlighting the dire circumstances faced by impoverished Palestinians subjected to relentless Israeli aggression. They have been enduring severe shortages of basic necessities, including water, food, and power, which has resulted in a severe humanitarian crisis.
Jalil Abbas Jilani emphasized that Pakistan stands firmly against the tragic events unfolding in Gaza, characterizing Israel’s actions as a form of genocide against the Palestinian population. He emphasized that the current grave situation is a direct consequence of seven decades of unlawful occupation of Palestinian territories.
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Addressing a press conference, the foreign minister said Israel should respect and implement the international laws, the United Nations Security Council and the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions over the Palestinians’ rights to self-determination for an independent state.
He said that an emergency and extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the OIC would be held in Jeddah on October 18 to discuss the ongoing situation in Palestine.
Israel had committed aggression and conducted aerial aggression over Gaza which resulted in the deaths of scores of women and children, he said, adding that any attempt to equate Israel, an aggressor, with the Palestinians’ struggle for self-determination was unacceptable.
Foreign Minister Jilani further stressed a separate status of Palestine under the two-state policy as accepted by the international community with an independent state of Palestine having pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
He also categorically maintained that there was no change of Pakistan’s policy with regard to Israel, it would continue pursuing the same policy as adopted in the past and would continue in the future till Palestinians get right their right to self-determination under the UNSC and OIC resolutions.
To a question regarding the humanitarian aid to sieged Palestinians, he said that they were in touch with the international community and the Muslim countries, but unfortunately, there was a complete siege of Gaza.
He said this aspect would be highlighted during the upcoming OIC executive committee meeting in which they would consider the coordinated response of the OIC member countries as to how to bring an end to the violence perpetrated by Israel and how to provide immediate humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.
Pakistan was ready to provide humanitarian assistance and had been in touch with the Egyptian authorities, he added.
He said the OIC committee meeting would make a forceful case for the early resolution of the issue.
About Caretaker Prime Minister’s upcoming visit to China on October 17-18 to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for international cooperation, he said that the prime minister would hold meetings with the Chinese leaders, global leaders and top Chinese top business leaders.
Prime Minister Kakar would also discuss joint ventures with the Chinese companies and a number of MOUs regarding agriculture, health, industrial, green energy and space technology cooperation would be signed during the upcoming visit.
The foreign minister further said that the visit would enhance the ongoing strong bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and China as ‘Iron Brothers’ and would help strengthen the bilateral ties.
“The visit will also provide an opportunity to review the entire gamut of entire cooperation and Pak-China strategic cooperation. The visit also marks the ten years of CPEC and Belt and Road Initiative,” he added.
