Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday praised the Irish government’s decision to recognize Palestine as an independent state.
In a telephone conversation with his Irish counterpart, Simon Harris, the Prime Minister congratulated him on his inauguration and said his youth and dynamism will make a big difference in Ireland.
He said Ireland’s decision would send a message of hope and solidarity to innocent Palestinians who have suffered Israeli atrocities. “It will also go a long way in promoting the Palestinian cause and encouraging other countries to follow Ireland’s lead.”
The Prime Minister said that Pakistan maintains that the two-state solution is the only way to bring lasting peace to the Middle East in accordance with relevant UN resolutions.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to the just struggle of the Palestinians and ordered the International Court of Justice to stop Israel’s attacks on Gaza and Rafah.
He also hoped that the oppressed people of Kashmir would receive the same attention from the international community as they too have been subjected to brutal occupation and denial of human rights for the past seven decades.
Prime Minister Simon Harris said Ireland had taken a principled decision in consultation with other European allies because Israeli military action in Gaza would not be tolerated. Ireland felt that this decision was necessary to promote normalization in the occupied territories.
The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral relations between Pakistan and Ireland and expressed their common desire to strengthen cooperation in areas of interest.
The Prime Minister praised Ireland’s decision to open a resident mission in Pakistan and said that the new mission will play an important role in bilateral trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges with its Dublin mission in Pakistan.
He also extended a friendly invitation to Prime Minister Simon Harris for his official visit to Pakistan.
The Prime Minister welcomed International Court of Justice ruling on Palestine
Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against genocide in Palestine.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to the courage of the 13 ICJ judges who made the decision and thanked South Africa for sending the petition.
In his speech, he reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinians and said he would continue to fight for their rights. He said that Pakistan supported the demand made by South Africa.
The prime minister called on the UN Security Council and the international community to immediately implement the decision to suspend Israeli operations in Gaza.
He also called on the international community to provide aid and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people, and to grant immediate access to the UN Fact-Finding Mission to Gaza and Rafah.
The prime minister said he would continue his role in protecting the human rights and laws of the Palestinian people.
