ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday voiced its “unwavering” support for Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and condemned “irresponsible and provocative remarks” by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about establishing a Palestinian state in the Kingdom.
The statement by the Pakistani foreign ministry came after a conversation between Pakistan’s deputy PM and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Israeli officials have proposed establishing a Palestinian state on the Saudi territory after the Israeli PM seemingly joked about the idea during an interview on pro-Netanyahu Channel 14, according to Reuters.
Netanyahu’s comments come amid a six-week truce announced last month between Hamas and Israel that ended 15 months of war, involving the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces from central Gaza and the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza.
“Strongly condemning Israeli Prime Minister’s irresponsible and provocative remarks, the DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as unflinching support to the Palestinian cause,” the Pakistani foreign ministry said in a statement.
Pakistan has strong economic, defense and cultural ties with the Kingdom, while Islamabad does not recognize nor have diplomatic relations with Israel and calls for an independent Palestinian state based on “internationally agreed parameters.”
The remarks by the Israeli PM followed a suggestion last month by US President Donald Trump that Palestinians in Gaza should be resettled in Egypt, Jordan, or other countries — a proposal rejected by Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, and other nations apart from being condemned by international rights groups.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry on Sunday responded sharply to Netanyahu’s remarks, saying that it rejected “such statements that aim to divert attention from the continuous crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against the Palestinian brothers in Gaza.”
During their conversation, the Saudi foreign minister thanked DPM Dar for Pakistan’s “consistent and time-tested support” to the sanctity and inviolability of the Kingdom, the Pakistani foreign ministry said.
“The two leaders agreed to urgently convene an Extraordinary OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) meeting of Foreign Ministers to discuss the developments relating to Gaza,” it added.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 45,000 people, including children and women, according to the Palestinian health ministry, with at least more than 100,000 others wounded. The war began after Oct. 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas on Israel.
Pakistan slams Netanyahu for comments on establishing Palestinian state on Saudi soil
https://arab.news/49upb
Pakistan slams Netanyahu for comments on establishing Palestinian state on Saudi soil
- The remarks about the establishment of a Palestinian state on the Saudi territory have provoked widespread backlash
- Pakistan deputy PM terms Netanyahu’s remarks ‘irresponsible and provocative,’ reaffirms support to Palestinian cause
Three security personnel, five militants killed in separate incidents in Pakistan’s northwest
- An army major and five militants were killed in an operation in Bajaur, while gunmen shot dead two cops in Lakki Marwat and Tank
- Pakistan has blamed the surge in militancy in its northwest on Afghanistan and India-backed militants, Kabul and New Delhi deny this
PESHAWAR: Three security personnel, including an army major, and five militants were killed in separate incidents in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, police and military said on Monday, amid a surge in militancy in the province bordering Afghanistan.
Security forces conducted an operation in KP’s Bajaur district on reported presence of Pakistani Taliban militants, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Five “Indian-sponsored” militants were killed during the operation, while it also resulted in the killing of Major Adeel Zaman who was leading his troops from the front.
“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij [militants], who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian sponsored kharja [militant] found in the area.”
Separately, gunmen abducted Sajjad Hussain, a police constable who was traveling home on leave, in KP’s Tank district and later shot him dead, according to district police spokesman Younus Khan.
“The martyred constable, Sajjad Hussain, was posted at the Nasran checkpoint,” Khan told Arab News. “He was intercepted, forced off his vehicle, and shot on Shah Alam–Nasran Road by militants.”
Another policeman, Assistant Sub-Inspector Mumtaz Ali, was shot dead by gunmen in Pezu area of the nearby Lakki Marwat district.
“The officer, who was posted in Tank, was on his way to his duty station when assailants intercepted his vehicle, forced him out, and opened fire, killing him on the spot,” Khan added.
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the police killings, which came a day after police killed eight militants in KP’s Karak district.
Pakistan has struggled to contain a surge in militancy in KP in recent years. Militant groups such as the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have frequently targeted convoys of security forces, police stations and check-posts besides kidnapping government officials in the region.
Islamabad has frequently accused Afghanistan of allowing its soil and India of backing militant groups, including the TTP, for attacks against Pakistan. Kabul and New Delhi have consistently denied this.
