Pakistan reiterates call for establishing independent Palestine state

Israel urged to refrain from taking any unilateral action that would lead to the annexation

ISLAMABAD: Reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with the people of Palestine, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Wednesday reiterated the country's call for the establishment of a viable, independent and the contiguous state of Palestine, on the basis of internationally agreed parameters – the pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

The foreign minister was speaking at an open-ended Extraordinary Virtual meeting of OIC Executive Committee at the Level of Foreign Ministers, on ‘threats of the Israeli occupation government to annex parts of State of Palestine’s territory occupied in 1967’.

According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office, the virtual meeting, called by the OIC General Secretariat at the request of Palestinian FM, was attended by the foreign ministers and representatives of OIC member states.



The FM Qureshi’s statement noted with grave concern the framework agreement between coalition parties in Israel to advance plans for annexation of occupied Palestinian territories, including parts of Jordan Valley.

Israel was urged to refrain from taking any unilateral action that would lead to the annexation of any occupied Palestinian territory in violation of relevant UN resolutions and international law.

In his communique, the foreign minister underscored the similar nature of freedom struggles in Palestine and Occupied Kashmir — the longest standing matters on the UN and OIC agenda, which are premised on the inalienable right of self-determination of their respective peoples.



The official statement also highlighted that the people of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K) continue to face inhuman lockdown, military siege, communication blockade and unprecedented restrictions following India’s illegal and unilateral actions of 5 August 2019. "These draconian measures have worsened the human rights and humanitarian situation in IOJ&K."

FM Qureshi called upon the international community to take cognisance of the situation and play an active role in resolving the outstanding disputes of Palestine and Kashmir, in accordance with international law, the relevant UN resolutions, and aspirations of these two peoples.