FM Qureshi says Pakistan and Turkey will jointly move UN to hold meeting on Palestine

MULTAN: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Thursday shed light on the issue of Palestine and said that owing to the urgency of the situation,  Pakistan and Turkey will to jointly move United Nations to hold a meeting related to Palestine so that the horrendous brutalities of the Israeli army targeting Palestinians could be stopped. 

Speaking to the media after saying his Eid prayers at the mausoleum of Hazrat Bahauddin Zakariya Multani, Qureshi said that the whole Pakistani nation stands united on the issues of Kashmir and Palestine.

The foreign minister added that Turkey and Pakistan have adopted a joint strategy to convene a ministerial-level meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to develop consensus among the 57 Muslim countries to convene an urgent UNGA meeting on the Palestine issue.

The FM strongly condemned the brutal acts of violence by Israeli forces targeting Palestinian worshippers at Al-Aqsa mosque, forced eviction of Palestinians from Al-Jarrah neighbourhood, and air strike on Gaza city targeting civilians including children.

He said that Prime Minister Imran Khan talked with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Saudi King Shah Salman on this sensitive issue.

Qureshi added that he was also tasked by PM Imran to talk to his Turkish counterpart, adding that he would contact the Turkish Foreign Minister (Today) Thursday.

FM Qureshi said that Pakistan has adopted a clear stance during the permanent representatives' meeting of the OIC held at Jeddah and added that other countries, including Turkey, have also expressed the same.

He said that they had presented a proposal and the Arab League also suggested convening an urgent ministerial-level meeting of the OIC on the Palestine issue to unite the 57 Muslim countries.

Qureshi said that the issue has been discussed at the security council and hoped it will be discussed further.

The foreign minister said that international organisations have faced troubles in Palestine due to Israeli violence and air strikes.

"And these organisations are also demanding immediate stoppage of atrocities in Palestine," he said, adding that world leaders should intensify efforts for peace and find out a solution to the longstanding dispute.

Qureshi said that Palestine and Kashmir issues are resolvable.

He, however, added that mobilising the Muslim ummah and international public opinion was vital to secure peace and protect the rights of the oppressed.

He requested the 65 million Muslims living in European countries to write letters to members of their respective parliaments, the European Parliament, the British Parliament and the Muslims living in the US should write letters to US Congress to convey their grievances regarding the brutalities in Palestine and Kashmir.

About the Afghan peace process, Shah Mahmood Qureshi said that the world has acknowledged and hailed the role of Pakistan for peace in Afghanistan.

Qureshi welcomed the Eid truce between the Taliban and the Afghan government, adding that the Intra-Afghan dialogue, which had started from Doha, has been heading forward.

He said it was a positive step of the Taliban and the Afghan government to opt for no hostility during Eid days.

Qureshi said that Pakistan wished and tried for permanent and lasting peace in Afghanistan and that it was in the best interest of Pakistan.

"Peace would mean safe borders and would enable Afghan refugees living in Pakistan to return to their country respectfully," he said.

The foreign minister said that peace in Afghanistan would also impact the national economy positively through regional connectivity.