Qureshi discusses situation in Palestine with Chinese, Sudanese counterparts

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi held telephonic conversations on Sunday with his Chinese and Sudanese counterparts over the rapidly evolving situation in Palestine.

Speaking to Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Qureshi shared Pakistan’s concern for the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories which, he stressed, was becoming a major threat to peace and security of the Middle East.

The minister, making his stance clear on the issue, said that the violent attacks perpetrated by Israeli forces against the innocent worshipers in Al-Aqsa Mosque and unarmed civilians and the children in the occupied territories were against humanitarian norms as well as the international law.

The foreign minister underlined the importance of urgent steps by the international community to stop the Israeli attacks, protect the civilian population, facilitate engagement of the parties and ensure a just and lasting solution based on the relevant UNSC resolutions and the two-state vision.

Qureshi also briefed Wang Yi about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s outreach to world leaders in addressing the current serious situation.

Afghan peace process

During the phone call, Foreign Minister Qureshi also stated that Pakistan supported an Afghan-led, and Afghan-owned peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan.

The foreign minister highlighted Pakistan’s contribution to the Afghan peace process and its support for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.

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Underscoring the importance of a responsible withdrawal, reduction in violence and earliest possible ceasefire, the foreign minister stressed the need for Afghan parties to seize the opportunity to work together and secure a negotiated inclusive political solution.

He maintained that China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Minister’s Dialogue was playing an important role in promoting peace and stability.

The two foreign ministers agreed to deepen Pakistan-China strategic cooperation and coordination to deal with the emerging challenges and reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to deepen their collective efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.

Bilateral relations

Qureshi congratulated Chinese leadership and its people for successfully landing its spacecraft on Mars and acknowledged that it was a historic milestone for China.

The foreign minister also underscored that the year 2021 had a special significance as it marked the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and how that journey has also led to the formation of a bilateral relationship in the form of an All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership.

During the call, Qureshi also stated that Pakistan and China should continue to deepen their cooperation in fighting Covid-19. He also thanked China for the support it had extended to Pakistan in containing the spread of the pandemic, including through provision of vaccines.

Read more Pakistan, Turkey join hands to stop Israeli atrocities on Palestinians

China has so far gifted Pakistan 1.5 million doses of Chinese vaccine.

Sudanese counterpart

In the telephonic call with Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Sudan Mariam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, Qureshi discussed the serious situation in Palestine.

He thanked the foreign minister of Sudan for reaching out to Pakistan to discuss the situation in Palestine.

Sharing his apprehensions about the rapidly deteriorating situation, he briefed his Sudanese counterpart on Pakistan’s consistent and steadfast support to Palestine.

He also informed her about Pakistan’s outreach with regional countries on the recent escalation. Foreign Minister Qureshi also emphasised the need for concerted actions to prevent further escalation of the conflict and to protect the lives and human rights of the Palestinian people.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the role of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in forging a united stance supporting the just cause of Palestine and protecting the innocent Palestinians from the indiscriminate and excessive use of force against them.

They also agreed to continue exchanging views on the evolving situation in Palestine.

On the deteriorating security situation in Palestine, Foreign Minister Qureshi has already exchanged views with his counterparts from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Afghanistan, and China.