Islamabad: Pakistan has strongly condemned what it termed as “illegal and inflammatory” measures by Israeli occupation authorities in the Occupied West Bank, while reaffirming its commitment to diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and regional stability. The stance was articulated during the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday.
PM Shehbaz’s Visit to Qatar Strengthens Strategic Partnership
The Spokesperson highlighted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s official visit to Qatar from February 23–24, undertaken at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Ameer of the State of Qatar.
During the visit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held detailed talks with Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The two leaders reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of political engagement. Both sides underscored the need to expand cooperation in trade, investment, energy, defence, and people-to-people exchanges.
The Ameer reiterated Qatar’s commitment to elevating economic cooperation to a higher strategic level. The leaders also exchanged views on key regional and global developments, emphasizing dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful resolution of disputes.
In a significant diplomatic gesture, His Highness the Ameer accepted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s invitation to visit Pakistan later this year, reflecting the shared resolve to translate robust political ties into tangible economic outcomes.
During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Defense Affairs Sheikh Saoud Al Thani called on the Prime Minister. The meeting focused on defence and security cooperation, with Qatar appreciating the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and expressing interest in deepening defence collaboration. The engagement reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to further strengthening their strategic partnership.
Ishaq Dar in Saudi Arabia for OIC Executive Committee Session
The Spokesperson informed that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is visiting Saudi Arabia from February 26–28 to participate in the Extraordinary Ministerial Session of the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
The meeting has been convened to deliberate upon recent illegal decisions by Israeli occupation authorities aimed at expanding settlements, pursuing annexation, and attempting to impose Israeli sovereignty over the Occupied West Bank.
At the Ministerial Session, Pakistan will present its perspective on what it describes as unlawful Israeli measures to convert areas of the Occupied West Bank into so-called “state land,” reiterating its principled support for the Palestinian people and a just, lasting solution based on international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Diplomatic Engagements in London
While in London, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, focusing on bilateral cooperation and regional developments. The two leaders also exchanged views on the inaugural Board of Peace meeting held in Washington, D.C., and agreed to maintain close coordination on matters of mutual interest.
In a separate telephonic conversation, Ishaq Dar felicitated Bangladesh’s newly appointed Foreign Minister, Dr. Khalil ur Rahman. Both sides expressed the desire to further strengthen Pakistan-Bangladesh ties and expand cooperation across multiple sectors and multilateral platforms.
Strong Condemnation of Israeli Actions and U.S. Ambassador’s Remarks
The Foreign Office further highlighted a joint statement by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine—along with the secretariats of the OIC, the League of Arab States, and the Gulf Cooperation Council—strongly condemning remarks by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel suggesting that Israeli control over territories belonging to Arab states, including the occupied West Bank, would be acceptable.
The ministers described the comments as dangerous, inflammatory, and a clear violation of international law and the UN Charter, warning that such rhetoric threatens regional peace and stability.
In addition, the Secretary Generals of the Arab League and the OIC, along with a wide range of countries—including Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Brazil, France, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Egypt, Luxembourg, Norway, Palestine, Portugal, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, and the UAE—condemned recent Israeli decisions extending unlawful control over the West Bank. These measures include reclassification of Palestinian land as Israeli “state land,” acceleration of illegal settlement activities, and further entrenchment of Israeli administrative authority.
Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to International Law
Concluding the briefing, the Spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause and called for strict adherence to international law, UN resolutions, and the two-state solution based on pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of an independent Palestinian state.
The developments underscore Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement at bilateral and multilateral levels, as Islamabad continues to advocate for peace, stability, and respect for international law in the region.
