Pakistan on Thursday joined other countries to strongly oppose President Donald Trump's stunning proposal to take over Gaza, a piece of land which would be part of the future Palestinian State.
During a joint news conference with the Israeli Prime Minister, Trump dropped the bombshell by revealing that the US was planning to take over Gaza strip, a dramatic shift in Washington's decades-old policy.
Despite being the staunch supporter of Israel, successive US governments continued to support a two-state solution. Trump's proposal was so startling that even American commentators termed it "head spinning" idea.
Since the controversial suggestion, the Trump Administration received backlash from its foes and friends alike. Western countries even rejected the proposal while Arab nations including Saudi Arabia denounced it out rightly.
"The proposal to displace the people of Gaza is deeply troubling and unjust. The Palestinian land belongs to the Palestinian people and the only viable and just option is the two-state solution, in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions," read a Foreign Office statement on Thursday.
"Pakistan has been and will continue to stand by the people of Palestine in their just struggle for self-determination, as well as for the establishment of a sovereign, independent, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital," it added.
The statement warned that any attempts to displace the Palestinians from their land as well as to continue illegal settlements would be a blatant violation of the international law, and undermine the peace and security of the entire region.
Pakistan reiterates its call for the return of all displaced Palestinians to their homes, including in Gaza; complete withdrawal of the Israeli forces from the occupied territories, upscaling of the humanitarian assistance and end to all obstructions, as well as concerted international efforts for the early reconstruction of Gaza.
Speaking at a news conference later, spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan made it clear that Pakistan would continue to support the Palestinian cause.
"Pakistan's position from the beginning, actually from the time of founding father, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah's unequivocal position on this issue is unambiguous and very clear. There is no ambiguity on this. Our support for Palestinian cause is constant throughout our history, it is one of the issues which is very dear to all Pakistani people," the spokesperson stressed.
Meanwhile, the spokesperson condemned Israel's undue restrictions impeding the flow of aid, shelters and necessary medical equipment to the territory, in violation of the ceasefire deal.
As per the agreement 60,000 trailers and 200,000 tents were supposed to enter Gaza and the deal also required Israel to allow equipment to help clear the rubble to reach Gaza.
Amidst dire humanitarian needs, Israel's undue restrictions are an outright violation of the ceasefire agreement, and it will have dangerous and unprecedented implications for the entire region.
"We call on the international community to break its silence on the blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement by Israel and its continuous atrocities committed against the innocent Palestinians. The international community must step up and ensure that the ceasefire agreement is honored in letter and spirit. We also urge the international community to hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and crimes against humanity," he said.
To a question, the spokesperson confirmed to reporters that Pakistan handed over a body of an Afghan national, who was killed during a counterterrorism operation in K-P.
"What I can confirm to you is that one of the terrorists killed was indeed the son of an Afghan interim government official from Badghis province. The body has been handed over to the Afghan authorities that I can confirm," the spokesperson added.
Pakistan has in the past accused Afghan nationals of being part of the banned TTP to carry out attacks in the country. On January 31, Pakistan conducted an intelligence-based operation in D I Khan in which two Afghan nationals involved in terrorist activities were killed.
Regarding illegal migrants and the related issues, the spokesperson said the US government had expedited the removal of aliens, illegal migrants, from the US under a new executive order by the US President issued on 20th January 2025.
"The governments of Pakistan and the United States remain in active collaboration with each other for processing cases of illegal migrants and their subsequent deportation. This is an ongoing process carried out in coordination with the Ministry of Interior," he added.
"On the issue of migrants being shifted to Guantanamo Bay, this is not part of our discussions with the US. For example, with the EU, we have taken a number of Pakistanis who were found illegally staying there. But this is an ongoing process between the two countries, through our embassies. We are in touch with each other, and this is also an inter-ministerial process in which Interior Ministry is also involved," he said.
The spokesperson said that during the visit of President Asif Ali Zardari to China, Pakistan reiterated its strongest condemnation of the terrorist attacks in Pakistan involving Chinese personnel and reaffirmed that ensuring the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan was the foremost responsibility of Pakistani government as China's All-weather Strategic Cooperative partner and the host country.
"The Chinese nationals in Pakistan have made important contributions to Pakistan's national construction and the improvement of people's livelihoods and serve as a strong force helping boost Pakistan's development, progress and prosperity."
The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with a zero-tolerance attitude, and agreed to further strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on counter terrorism.
"The Pakistani side will continue to make all efforts to investigate into the terrorist attacks involving Chinese personnel and bring the perpetrators to justice. It will also further increase input into security, and take targeted and enhanced measures to effectively ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan, and create a safe environment for cooperation between the two countries," he added.
He said the two sides underscored that the strategic defense and security cooperation between China and Pakistan played an irreplaceable and critical role in maintaining peace, stability and strategic balance in the region.
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