ISLAMABAD: The Israeli Prime Minister’s unilateral announcement of his intention to annex territories in the occupied West Bank as a re-election promise, “is a dangerous trend and threatens world peace and security,” said Pakistan’s Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Shafqat Mehmood, who led the country’s delegation during Sunday’s extraordinary meeting of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers in Jeddah.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was not present at the meeting.
The 16th extraordinary meeting of its kind was called by the OIC Secretariat at the request of Saudi Arabia as Chair of the 14th Islamic Summit, following Netanyahu’s annexation pledge days ahead of a hotly contested election to be held on Tuesday. The meeting was chaired by the Saudi Foreign Minister, Dr. Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz Al-Assaf, a press release stated.
Mehmood “appealed to OIC members, United Nations and the international community to revive their obligation toward the people of Palestine,” and added that “the UN and the OIC members should condemn such irresponsible announcements, being used as party slogans in the election campaign, which can jeopardize peace in the region.”
Furthermore, Mehmood drew strong comparisons between the “unspeakable suffering” of the Kashmiri and Palestinian people who shared a history of “over seven decades of occupation” and drew attention to the communications blackout and arrests taking place in Indian-administered Kashmir since August 5th, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi moved to abrogate the region’s special legal status.
Mehmood reaffirmed Pakistan’s stance that the establishment of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian state on the basis of internationally agreed parameters and with Jerusalem as its capital, was the “only way to bring peace and stability in Middle East.”
Netanyahu’s pledge “dangerous trend,” Pakistan warns at OIC meeting
Netanyahu’s pledge “dangerous trend,” Pakistan warns at OIC meeting
- Federal Minister Shafqat Mehmood drew strong parallels between situations in Kashmir and Palestine
- Said contiguous Palestinian state with Jerusalem as capital only hope for peace
Pakistan president meets UAE counterpart, explores trade, investment opportunities
- Asif Ali Zardari is in UAE on four-day visit to strengthen bilateral ties, review bilateral cooperation
- Both sides discuss regional, international developments, reaffirm commitment to promote peace
ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday during which both sides explored new opportunities in trade, investment, energy and other sectors, Zardari's office said.
Zardari arrived in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening with a high-level delegation on a four-day official visit to the UAE to review trade, economic and security cooperation.
"The leaders discussed ways to further deepen the longstanding and brotherly relations between Pakistan and the UAE," a statement from Zardari's office said about his meeting with the UAE president.
"They reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation and explored new opportunities in trade, investment, energy, infrastructure, technology, and people-to-people exchanges, highlighting the significant potential for expanding economic and strategic partnership.
Zardari highlighted the significance of Al-Nayhan's visit to Pakistan last month, the statement said, expressing appreciation for the UAE's continued support for strengthening bilateral ties.
It said both sides also exchanged views on a range of regional and international developments, reaffirming their commitment to promoting peace, stability and sustainable development.
The meeting was also attended by Pakistan's First Lady Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, the Pakistani president's son Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Pakistan's ambassador to the UAE.
ZARDARI MEETS AD PORTS CEO
Zardari earlier met AD Ports Group CEO Captain Mohamed Juma Al-Shamisi to discuss the group's investment initiatives in Karachi.
"Both sides agreed that the expansion and modernization of port infrastructure would strengthen trade flows and support Pakistan’s broader economic development and country’s seaborne trade," the President's Secretariat said in a statement.
It added that Zardari described the AD Ports Group's long-term investment and expanding role in Pakistan's maritime and logistics sector as a key pillar of Pakistan–UAE economic cooperation.
Pakistan and the UAE maintain close political and economic relations, with Abu Dhabi playing a pivotal role in supporting Islamabad during periods of financial stress through deposits, oil facilities and investment commitments.
The UAE is Pakistan's third-largest trading partner, after China and the United States, and a key destination for Pakistani exports, particularly food, textiles and construction services.
The Gulf state is also home to more than 1.5 million Pakistani expatriates, one of the largest overseas Pakistani communities in the world, who contribute billions of dollars annually in remittances, a crucial source of foreign exchange for Pakistan’s economy.
Beyond trade and labor ties, Pakistan and the UAE have steadily expanded defense and security cooperation over the years, including military training, joint exercises and collaboration in counter-terrorism and regional security matters.
