Dar hopes new US govt to ensure ME peace

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday expressed the hope that the new US administration following last week's elections would lend its weight to reinvigorate efforts for peace in the Middle East in accordance with the UN resolutions and international law, as a priority.

Addressing the council of foreign ministers' preparatory meeting for the second Arab-Islamic Summit on the situation in the Middle East, the deputy prime minister said the mere condemnation of Israeli actions will not be enough.

He stressed immediate action was needed to fulfil the moral and legal duty of standing Palestinians for their rights and demanding justice for them.

He called for securing an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in Gaza and the region, ensuring unfettered humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, forcing Israel to stop the demonisation of UNRWA and urging the UNGA to ensure UNRWA continues its vital operations.

Ishaq Dar also called for pursuing full implementation of the UNGA resolution ES-10/24, supporting Palestine's admission as a full member of the UN, exploring legal avenues to hold Israel accountable for war crimes, imposing an immediate arms embargo on Israel, undertaking a comprehensive review of Israel's membership of the UN.

He further called for nominating a joint Arab-Islamic special envoy on the Middle East as a focal point to coordinate progress on the implementation of the resolutions adopted by the joint Arab-Islamic summits.

Dar highlighted that the first joint Arab-Islamic summit held in Riyadh in November last year had adopted far-reaching decisions to end the war in Gaza. However, he lamented that the situation had only worsened after more than a year.

"Israel has been contravening all international norms and laws with impunity. The Israeli occupying forces continue to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity against the innocent Palestinians," he added.

He pointed out that during the last one year, the death toll of innocent Palestinians has crossed 44,000, while more than a hundred thousand have been injured and millions displaced. "International humanitarian access to Palestinians has been further restricted."

"The reckless pursuit of a so-called greater Israel by encroaching upon the sovereignty of states beyond Palestine, is fraught with serious implications for regional peace and stability."

He reiterated Pakistan's strong condemnation of Israel's military strikes against the brotherly countries in a blatant violation of the UN charter and international law.

He said the UN Security Council remained ineffective, and the calls by the UN General Assembly, the OIC, and ICJ for a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian aid, and civilian protection were also utterly disregarded.

Congratulating the Saudi initiative for holding the inaugural meeting of the "global alliance for implementation of a two-state solution" last month, the deputy prime minister assured that Pakistan will abide by its commitment to and engagement with the alliance for the achievement of its objectives.