DPM Dar, Jordanian counterpart discuss deteriorating situation in occupied West Bank

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met his Jordanian counterpart on Wednesday, with the “deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank” coming under discussion, according to the Foreign Office (FO). The FO said Dar met Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Safadi on the sidelines of a Ministerial Meeting in Amman aimed at formulating a unified position on the situation in occupied Jerusalem. The FO said that the foreign ministers exchanged views on regional developments, in particular on the deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank. Dar appreciated Jordan’s role in safeguarding the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and its support for the Palestinian people, it added.

“The two leaders welcomed the growing momentum in Pakistan–Jordan bilateral relations and reaffirmed [their commitment] to further enhancing cooperation across political, defence, economic, educational, cultural and people-to-people domains,” it added. Dar and Safadi also discussed the situation in the region, including the recent developments in the conflict between the United States and Iran. They underscored the importance of dialogue and diplomacy for de-escalation and reaffirmed their close coordination at bilateral and multilateral levels to promote peace and stability, including at the United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the statement added. Separately, Dar also held a bilateral meeting with Abdisalam Abdi Ali, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia. Alongside exchanging views on regional developments, the foreign ministers also reviewed the longstanding fraternal ties between the two countries. According to the FO, they discussed ways to further strengthen cooperation in the “political, economic, defence, education, and capacity-building sectors”. They also reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining close coordination at multilateral forums, it added.

According to the FO, Dar is in Jordan to attend a ministerial meeting aimed at formulating a unified position on the situation in occupied Jerusalem. It said that he would “reaffirm Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian people and their just cause” at the ministerial meeting bringing together foreign ministers from Arab League member states and a group of Islamic countries to discuss the deteriorating situation in occupied Jerusalem. The foreign minister is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the meeting to exchange views on regional developments including Palestine. The FO termed Dar’s participation in the ministerial meeting “a manifestation of Pakistan’s principled support for the Palestinian people” and its commitment to the establishment of an “independent, sovereign and contiguous” State of Palestine based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan and other Muslim countries have repeatedly condemned “continued incursions by extremist Israeli settlers” into Al Aqsa Mosque — Islam’s third-holiest site, located in east Jerusalem, which Israel captured in 1967 and later annexed. The Al-Aqsa compound is a central symbol of Palestinian identity and also a frequent flashpoint. Under long-standing arrangements, Jewish people may visit the compound, but are not permitted to pray there. While Israel says it is committed to maintaining this status quo, Palestinians fear it is being eroded. The foreign ministers of Pakistan and eight other Muslim countries in June expressed their “categorical rejection” of any attempts to alter the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites.