Pakistan, UN welcome Gaza ceasefire
Qureshi says Pak to continue supporting Palestinians' struggle
NEW YORK (Dunya News) – Pakistan and the United Nations have welcomed the announcement of ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, and expressed the hope that this agreement will help to resolve the Palestine issue through talks.
According to details, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi held a meeting with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres where he voiced concerns over the inhumane use of force by Israel against unarmed Palestinians and the killings of innocent citizens, including women and children.
He said the continuous use of brutal force by Israel had resulted in the martyrdom of over 250 Palestinians and injuries to thousands others.
The minister told the UN secretary general that the purpose of his visit for participation in the emergency meeting of the General Assembly was to raise voice for the unarmed and oppressed Palestinians and draw attention of the international community to the human rights violations. He said that Pakistan was determined to continue supporting Palestinians’ struggle for their right to self-determination.
The UN secretary general, while welcoming the ceasefire agreement, said that it would help settle the Palestine issue through talks.
The foreign minister, while informing the UN secretary general about the ongoing human rights violations in Indian held-Kashmir, illegal detentions of Kashmiri leaders and the incidents of extrajudicial killings, said that for permanent peace in South Asia, resolution of the Kashmir issue in the light of the resolutions passed by the Security Council was inevitable.
Qureshi said that the agreement between Pakistan and India of complying with the 2003 ceasefire agreement was commendable. Pakistan had always desired peaceful relations with its neighbours, he further said, adding that so, it was India’s responsibility to create conducive environment for the talks.
The minister stressed the need for resolving the Kashmir issue through implementation of the resolutions of the Security Council for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the crisis.
Qureshi also briefed the UN chief on Pakistan’s efforts for preserving peace in Afghanistan, and said Pakistan hoped that for peace and stability in the region and peaceful resolution of the Afghan issue, all stakeholders would sit together and find a way to a comprehensive political dialogue.
