DPM Dar discusses bilateral relations with Egyptian counterpart

Reaffirms support to Palestinians’ right to independent state

Monitoring Desk

NEW YORK: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar has said that Pakistan reaffirmed its unwavering and principled support for the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to a viable, independent and contiguous state of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

Ishaq Dar was speaking at the United Nations High-Level International Conference on “The Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution” in New York.

He said, “For over 75 years the Palestinian people have endured occupation, displacement and denial of their fundamental rights including their inalienable right to self-determination.”

“This prolonged injustice is not just a political failure but a moral stain and a persistent threat to international peace and security,” he said adding, “Today Gaza is a graveyard of international law and humanitarian principles.”

He said the death and destruction inflicted by Israel including the killing of over 58,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children was an unconscionable breach of international humanitarian law, the United Nations resolutions and the binding measures of the International Court of Justice.

Blockade of aid, deliberate targetting of civilian infrastructure including refugee camps, hospitals and aid convoys crossed every red line of legality and humanity, he asserted. He said, “The collective punishment of Palestinians must stop now and we must immediatetly act with purpose.”

“It is high time for credible and enforcible international action on key priorities.” He called for an unconditional, immediate and permanent ceasefire across Gaza and all Palestinian Occupied territories and implementation of the UN resolution 2735.

He commended the efforts of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the United States on the Palestinian issue.
He urged full and unimpeded humanitarian access especially of life saving food and medicines to Gaza and the protection of humanitarian teams.

He underlined the need for the financial and political support for UNRWA – a lifeline for millions of Palestinians. He called for international accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity and end of impunity for Israel.

He said a genuine and irreversible political process should be undertaken to end the occupation of Palestine. “The Palestinian question is the test case for the United Nations and the world,” he said adding the conference must deliver actionable commitments including reaffirming the centrality of the two state solution which was the only path to sustainable peace.

Outlining the aims of the conference, the Deputy Prime Minister said the international community must demand Israel’s immediate withdrawal from Gaza. Gaza should be reconstructed as envisaged in resolution 2735 and the OIC Arab plan, he said adding the international community should support the OIC proposal to provide international protection to the Palestinian people through the deployment of a protection mechanism besides providing a timeline for building Palestinian institutional capacity and sovereignty.

He said the conference participants must reject and halt any attempts to the forced displacement and demographic manipulation in Palestine. The international community must oppose illegal Israeli settlements and annexations especially in West Bank and East Jerusalem, he emphasised. “We unequivocally condemn the Israeli Parliament’s attempt to assert sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank.”

He called on the countries attending the conference to ensure the recognition of the state of Palestine and its full UN membership. “We welcome France’s decision to recognize the state of Palestine and encourage other countries who have not done so far, to extend recognition and contribute to this global momentum for Palestinian statehood,” he remarked.

Ishaq Dar said Pakistan stood ready to extend dedicated technical assistance and capacity building support towards Palestinian brothers and sisters in key sectors such as health, public administration, education and service delivery in accordance with the Palestinian leadership’s decision.

“Pakistan is also prepared to contribute to the building of institutions including through participation in the OIC Arab plan or any international protection mechanism,” he added.

“Let me conclude by saying that justice delayed is justice denied. But when justice is denied for generations, the consequences are even graver. The question of Palestine has impacted the entire region and beyond. We must give hope to the Palestinian people,” he said adding, ” The occupation must end, and end now. It is time for freedom, self-determination and statehood, and Palestine’s full membership of the UN. That will be the best guarantee for lasting peace in the region.”

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister of Pakistan Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Foreign Minister of Egypt Dr. Badr Abdelatty on the sidelines of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution in New York and discussed matters of bilateral interest.

Reaffirming the deep-rooted and historic bilateral ties, the two leaders emphasized the importance of enhancing broad-based cooperation across various sectors, including medical, minerals, defence, trade, and investment. They agreed on the need to strengthen connectivity between Pakistan and Egypt to promote economic integration and facilitate greater trade. Both sides also agreed to undertake high-level exchanges in the near future.

Appreciating the continued collaboration at multilateral fora, FM Abdelatty congratulated Pakistan on assuming the Presidency of the UNSC this month.

Reiterating their unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause, the two ministers underscored the urgent need for unimpaired humanitarian access, an immediate cessation of Israeli hostilities, and expressed hope for a meaningful and constructive outcome of the International Conference on the Two-State Solution.
Pakistan open to composite dialogue with India: Dar

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar has reiterated Islamabad’s interest in a “composite dialogue” with New Delhi to discuss all outstanding issues between the two South Asian countries.

Ishaq Dar also said that any attempt by India to block water flow into Pakistan or its course is diverted, it will be considered a declaration of war.

Addressing a press conference in New York, Ishaq Dar stated that the Indus Waters Treaty cannot be unilaterally terminated by anyone. “We have rights over the three rivers. We are ready for talks with India anywhere in the world, and if negotiations take place now, they will be comprehensive,” he said.

Responding to a question about his meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington last week, Ishaq Dar told a press conference in New York that while military-to-military communications were taking place, there was no contact on the political side.

A political dialogue, the DPM/FM said will ultimately have to take place to resolve the problems between the two countries.

Ishaq Dar was asked about any follow-up on Rubio’s statement on May 10 that India and Pakistan have agreed to hold talks at a “neutral site” following a period of escalating tensions. Dar said that the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere in which they discussed a wide range of issues.

Pakistan, he said, made absolutely clear that without a resolution of the Kashmir dispute, in accordance with United Nations resolutions, there will no durable peace in the region.

Replying to another question, the DPM/FM said he had invited Secretary Rubio to visit Pakistan.

On relations with Afghanistan, Dar highlighted Pakistan’s outreach to Afghanistan, a neighbouring Muslim country, with a view to enhancing regional connectivity through rail and trade corridors to Central Asia.

Pakistan’s relations with Iran have also greatly improved, he said.

The DPM/FM held the press conference at the end of his week-long visit to the US during which he presided over Pakistan’s signature events at the UN Security Council.

Ishaq Dar has ruled out the possibility of Pakistan recognizing Israel, asserting that Islamabad maintains a consistent and principled stance on the Palestinian issue.

Dar said Pakistan had no programme to recognize Israel and reiterated Islamabad’s commitment to supporting the rights of the Palestinian people. “We issued an official statement at the time of the attack on Iran — having diplomatic relations does not mean endorsing what is wrong,” he said.

The deputy prime minister’s remarks come amid renewed global calls for the two-state solution in the Middle East and efforts by Western powers to broker a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Dar emphasised that now is the time for the international community to grant full membership to the State of Palestine at the United Nations.