ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has expressed its deep disappointment at the UNSC’s inability to reach a consensus on Palestine’s full membership of the UN, also regretting Washington’s decision to veto the draft resolution.
Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in her weekly press briefing that Islamabad is deeply disappointed by the result of last night’s debate at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and its inability to reach a consensus and recommend Palestine’s membership to the UNGA. She said that Pakistan expressed regret the US decision to veto the draft resolution granting full membership of the United Nations to Palestine.
She added that Pakistan believed the time has come for admission of Palestine to the United Nations. This will be a step towards correcting the historic injustice suffered by the people of Palestine for more than 75 years, she remarked. She maintained that it will affirm their right to self-determination.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that Palestinians had their inherent right to live in a sovereign Palestinian state with the pre-1967 borders and Quds Al-Sharif as its capital city.
Responding to a question, the spokesperson said that the upcoming Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Gambia would consider various proposals including those on Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine as well as the issue of Islamophobia.
Responding to another question, she said the statement by the Indian external affairs minister on Kashmir was unfortunate as it was New Delhi that had taken the Kashmir dispute to the UN. She added nothing could absolve Indian officials from their responsibilities and duties of implementing the UN resolutions on the dispute of Kashmir.
She also expressed deep dismay over the Indian authorities’ decision to prohibit the observance of major religious events like Shab-e-Qadr, Jumuatul Wida, and Eid-ul-Fitr at the Srinagar Jamia Masjid. She maintained that this is the 5th consecutive year when Eid-ul-Fitr congregation was not permitted at this historical mosque.
Baloch maintained that imposing curbs on religious leaders and preventing people of Kashmir from religious gatherings posed very serious challenges to the religious freedom of Muslims in the occupied Kashmir. The spokesperson also reiterated that Islamabad would continue extending its political, moral, and diplomatic support to the people of occupied Kashmir till their right to self-determination in accordance with the UNSC’s resolutions.
