UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan has called on the international community to push for rekindling the hopes of peace in the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a meaningful negotiating process.
“Millions of Palestinians in the Occupied Territories live under shadows of checkpoints, roadblocks, military siege and separation walls,” Foreign Minister Jalil Abbass Jilani told a meeting held to reinvigorate the peace process.
Any meaningful and viable negotiation process must run in parallel with the improvement in the lives of the Palestinian people,” the Pakistani foreign minister added.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, was sponsored by Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, Egypt and Jordan.
Pakistan, he said, strongly supports the revival of a credible peace process to achieve the objective of two-state formula, involving the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian State, living alongside Israel, within recognized and accepted pre-1967 boundaries, with Al Quds al Sharif as it’s capital.
Unfortunately, Jilani said, “the tragedy of Palestine continues, with Israeli military raids, airstrikes, expansion of settlements, evictions of Palestinians and violation of the status and sanctity of Al Quds al Sharif.
“The major hurdle for a long-term sustainable political process is the settlement activity by Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. It violates international law, vitiates the atmosphere conducive for negotiations and mutes the voices of peace and compassion.”
In conclusion, he remarked: “Pakistan’s vision is for lasting peace for all the peoples of the Middle East, irrespective of religion, ethnicity and nationality.”
Pakistan, UAE discuss strengthening cooperation
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani met his UAE counterpart on Tuesday to discuss investment projects and strengthening cooperation between the two countries at the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, the foreign ministry said.
Pakistan and the UAE enjoy fraternal relations based on shared culture, faith and cooperation in various sectors such as trade, defense and economy. The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trade partner after China and the United States. It is also viewed as an ideal export destination by policymakers in the South Asian country due to its geographical proximity with Pakistan that reduces transportation and freight costs.
In June, Pakistan established the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), a hybrid civil-military body to attract foreign investment in minerals, agriculture and other sectors. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar announced earlier this month that the UAE and Saudi Arabia had both pledged to invest $25 billion each as part of projects under the SIFC.
Jilani is in New York to attend the annual 78th session of the UNGA, which will run from September 19-26. PM Kakar will address the session on September 22, which would make him the first caretaker prime minister in Pakistan’s history to address the main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ of the UN.