FM Qureshi apprises Blinken of Pakistan's concern over situation in Palestine

He underscored importance of US role in ensuring necessary steps to help address the dire situation

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Sunday spoke with US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken and discussed bilateral relations and important regional developments particularly deteriorating situation in Palestine.

The foreign minister apprised Secretary Blinken of Pakistani people’s deep concern and anguish on the worsening humanitarian situation in the Israeli Occupied Palestinian Territories.

He also underscored the importance of US role in ensuring necessary steps to help address the dire situation, restore peace, and facilitate a just solution.

FM Qureshi reaffirmed Pakistan’s desire for a broad-based and comprehensive partnership with the United States that was anchored in close economic cooperation, enhanced regional connectivity and common vision for a peaceful South Asia.

Qureshi also highlighted the salience of transformed Pakistan (Naya Pakistan), with its shifting focus on geo-economics. He underscored that this vision rested on three central pillars of peace, development partnerships, and connectivity.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s steadfast support for the Afghan peace process while underscoring that achieving peaceful political solution in Afghanistan was the shared responsibility of all Afghan parties as well as the key international and regional stakeholders.

Underscoring the importance of responsible withdrawal, the foreign minister stressed that reduction in violence, permanent ceasefire, and seizing this historic opportunity to secure an inclusive, broad-based and comprehensive political settlement was indispensible.

He highlighted Pakistan’s immense sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and the progress made in strengthening the anti-terrorist financing and anti-money laundering regimes. He reaffirmed the resolve to continue efforts in this regard.

FM Qureshi and Secretary Blinken agreed to stay in touch and work together on advancing the two countries’ shared bilateral and regional interests.

We must not fail Palestinian people 

Earlier, following his virtual address the Emergency Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to discuss Israel’s aggression against Palestine, the foreign minister urged the international community on Twitter not to let the Palestinian people fail at the critical juncture as it was time to be on the right side of the history.

“There comes a time in the history of nations when decisions taken are remembered by posterity and it is important to be on the right side of history. This is one such moment. We must not fail the Palestinian people at this critical juncture,” he said.

The foreign minister, while briefing media about the OIC meeting, thanked Saudi Arabia for convening the emergency session where he represented the sentiments of the Pakistani nation as per the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Calling the Israeli atrocities highly condemnable, the foreign minister said human rights were being violated in Palestine.

The Palestinian people were targeted even during Holy Ramazan and the violence on women and children was intolerable.

Referring to the Israeli attack on media houses, the foreign minister said in this era of social media, it was impossible to cover up the truth.

Reiterating Pakistan’s resolve to raise the voice against Israeli aggression at every forum, Qureshi called for the role of international community to stop the Israeli aggression.

Foreign Minister Qureshi also apprised media of his telephonic interactions with Palestinian and Chinese counterparts and scheduled interaction with US Secretary of State on Sunday evening.

He said as per the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Palestine issue was defining principle of Pakistan’s foreign policy and assured that the country would never leave the Palestinian people alone.

At the OIC meeting, the foreign minister told the Muslim world that the indiscriminate use of force by Israeli forces against defenceless Palestinians defied all international laws.

The tragedy of forced evictions of Palestinians from Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of Al-Quds Al-Shareef was the latest manifestation of systematic Israeli effort to change demographic structure, historical and legal status, and Arab-Islamic / Christian character of Al-Quds Al-Shareef.

The foreign minister said creating false equivalence between Israel, the aggressor and Palestinians, the victims, was inexcusable.

Qureshi said OIC owed genesis to Palestinian issue and the Muslim Ummah must exhibit strong solidarity for people of Palestine with action.