Pakistan Holds Israel Responsible for Destabilising Entire Region

Pakistan hopes Gaza truce would lead to permanent end of the conflict

Thu Jan 16 2025
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has accused Israel of destabilising the entire region through its expansionist policies and the indiscriminate use of force in Gaza, which has caused unprecedented loss of lives and displacement.

Welcoming the January 15 ceasefire between Israel and Hamas to halt Gaza bombardment, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan on Thursday called for its full implementation and urged for a permanent truce to facilitate humanitarian aid and long-term peace in the region.

The spokesperson noted that Israeli occupation forces displaced hundreds of thousands of innocent civilian Palestinians. “Israel’s expansionist designs have destabilised the entire region,” he said.

Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan reiterates its support for a just, comprehensive, and durable solution to the Palestinian issue, leading to the establishment of a sovereign State of Palestine based on the pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

The spokesperson strongly rejected the recent baseless accusations and unfounded assertions made by India’s Defence Minister and Chief of Army Staff.

He said Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognised disputed territory, whose final status is to be determined in accordance with relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

He said in this context, India has no legal or moral grounds to assert fictitious claims over the territories of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.

“We note with deep concern the increasingly racist and Islamophobic political and media commentary in the UK that is aimed at conflating the reprehensible actions of a few individuals with the entire 1.7 million British Pakistani diaspora,” he stated.

Replying to a question, about relations with Afghanistan, he categorically rejected the reports of any annexation of Wakhan Corridor, calling it a part of neighbouring Afghanistan.

The Spokesperson said Wakhan is part of Afghan territory. He said Afghanistan is a neighbouring country and we recognise its sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added there is no question of Pakistan having designs on one of its neighbours.

The Spokesperson, however, reiterated the call for the Afghan government to take action against terrorist groups enjoying safe sanctuaries there.

Shafqat Ali Khan said Pakistan and Afghanistan understand the importance of relations and want to nurture good ties, but the key problem was the terrorists’ sanctuaries on Afghan soil. He said both countries are in contact on the matter through an ongoing multilayered engagement.

He described the visit of the Bangladesh military delegation to Pakistan as highly significant, emphasising that Bangladesh is an important partner for Pakistan. He expressed a desire for strong, dynamic, and positive relations between the two countries. The exchange of military delegations and collaboration in defence is a routine aspect of the broader bilateral engagement between the nations.

Replying to yet another question about the statement of the Russian Foreign Minister regarding relations with Pakistan, the Spokesperson said we welcome it. He said both Pakistan and Russia have worked hard to put the relationship on a solid and stable foundation and these relations are improving. 

To a question, he said he said, that Pakistan would work to send more humanitarian convoys to Gaza once the relief aid starts moving into the territory after the ceasefire deal.

Replying to another question, the Spokesperson said Pakistan’s Ambassador in Washington will attend the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump.

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