ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday condemned Israel’s bombing of the historic Grand Mosque in Gaza’s Khan Younis and urged the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to protect the Palestinians by putting an end to Israeli violations of the international law, the Pakistani foreign office said.
Israel has carried out near-daily raids across Gaza and the West Bank since the October 7 attacks by Hamas, according to the Palestinian authorities. The Israeli military campaign has destroyed 610 mosques and three churches over the past 10 months in Gaza.
Speaking at a weekly press briefing, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson for the Pakistani foreign office, expressed grave concerns and unequivocal condemnation of the recent large-scale military operations by Israeli forces in Gaza and the West Bank.
“Pakistan strongly condemns the bombing of the historic Grand Mosque in Khan Younis, Gaza by the Israeli occupation forces,” she said. “This attack is a grievous assault on a place of deep cultural and religious significance. It also constitutes a clear violation of international law.”
Baloch urged the UNSC to hold Israel accountable for “egregious violations” of international humanitarian law and “war crimes” in Gaza.
“We call on the UN Security Council to take urgent and concrete measures to end these blatant violations of international law and the UN charter, protect the Palestinian people and hold Israel accountable for its egregious violations of international humanitarian law and the genocide and war crimes in Gaza,” she said.
Pakistan does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters” and the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Speaking about the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Cameroon today, Baloch said Pakistan’s Foreign Secretary Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi will present the South Asian nation’s perspective on Gaza and Kashmir along with other global issues.
The two-day event will be held in Cameroon’s capital city of Yaoundé. Pakistan actively participates in CFM meetings to address issues affecting the Muslim world, including Palestine, Kashmir and counterterrorism, while promoting regional cooperation, economic development and Islamic solidarity apart from fostering collaboration with other member states to tackle common challenges and opportunities.
Pakistan condemns bombing of Grand Mosque in Khan Younis, calls on UN to protect Palestinians
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Pakistan condemns bombing of Grand Mosque in Khan Younis, calls on UN to protect Palestinians
- Pakistan foreign office terms Israeli attack a ‘grievous assault’ on a religious place
- Over 40,000 Palestinians killed by Israeli occupation forces since war began last year
Pakistan, Indonesia agree to establish joint trade committee to deepen economic partnership
- Both countries last month signed seven agreements to deepen cooperation in trade, higher education, halal certification and health
- Pakistan intends to organize a Single-Country Exhibition and Business Forum in Jakarta, with invitations extended to ASEAN members
KARACHI: Pakistan and Indonesia further strengthened their economic partnership with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of the Indonesia–Pakistan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) to enhance dialogue, facilitate cooperation and jointly address opportunities and challenges in bilateral trade, the Pakistani commerce ministry said on Saturday.
The development comes a month after both countries signed seven memoranda of understanding to deepen cooperation in trade, higher education, halal certification and health during Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto’s two-day visit to Islamabad.
The MoU was signed following successful high-level talks led by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan and visiting Indonesian Vice Minister of Trade Ms. Dyah Roro Esty Widya Putri, reflecting a shared commitment to deepening economic ties.
Khan underscored Indonesia’s strategic importance within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and highlighting its potential role as a regional hub for fostering trilateral and regional economic cooperation.
“Pakistan could serve as a reliable source for minerals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and agri-food commodities for the Indonesian market,” he was quoted as saying.
Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan’s bilateral trade with Indonesia stood at $4.5 billion, with more than 90 percent of it comprising palm oil imports from Indonesia. He said both sides discussed “corrective measures” to balance this trade during President Subianto’s visit to Islamabad.
Commerce Minister Khan conveyed Pakistan’s intention to organize a Single-Country Exhibition and Business Forum in Jakarta, with invitations to be extended to ASEAN member states aimed at showcasing Pakistani products and strengthening regional business linkages, according to the commerce ministry.
The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) sought Indonesian facilitation for the early announcement of fruit import quotas, rationalization of certification requirements for Pakistani exports, notification of rice import quotas, and improved market access for industrial-grade potatoes from Pakistan.
“Both sides agreed to work jointly toward expanding the existing Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), with the shared objective of progressing toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) to unlock greater trade and investment opportunities,” the commerce ministry added.
