ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Saturday appreciated Saudi Arabia for its efforts in “promoting the Palestinian cause” during his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the sidelines of an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) summit in Riyadh, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
Kakar arrived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday to attend the Joint Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit. Saudi Arabia hosted the emergency summit in response to the deteriorating human rights situation in the Palestinian Gaza Strip as Muslim countries felt the need to consolidate their efforts for peace in the Middle East and come out with a unified collective position.
The summit brought together leaders from Arab and Asian nations, who called for an immediate end to the war on Gaza.
“Prime Minister Kakar appreciated the role and efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the sagacious leadership of His Highness the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, for promoting the Palestinian cause,” the PMO’s statement read.
“He thanked the Saudi leadership for the timely initiative of convening the Summit with a view to evolving Joint Arab-Islamic Action on the deteriorating situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
The statement said that both leaders underlined the need for “urgent collaboration” to stop Israel from its indiscriminate aggression against Palestinians. The Saudi crown prince and Pakistan’s premier demanded Israel lift its blockade on Gaza to facilitate humanitarian aid and medical assistance to the Palestinian population.
“The Prime Minister denounced the Israeli action of bombing hospitals, refugee camps, schools and residential buildings, resulting in the loss of more than 10 thousand precious lives,” the statement said. Kakar reiterated his commitment to a “just and enduring” resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which would result in the creation of a sovereign, independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
“The two leaders also exchanged views on bilateral matters and reaffirmed the resolve to further strengthening the longstanding Pakistan- Saudi relations for a mutually rewarding economic partnership,” the statement added.
The summit took place in the backdrop of increasing Israeli hostilities in the strip. Gaza’s Health Ministry said 11,000 people have been killed since Israel started its war on Gaza on Oct. 7, and 27,000 have been injured. Israel has conducted a massive military operation into the occupied territory after Hamas’ military wing launched a full-pronged attack against the Jewish state, killing 1,200 people.
In a joint resolution on Saturday, Muslim countries condemned Israel’s “brutal” aggression against Palestinians in Gaza and in the West Bank, including Al-Quds Al-Sharif. It also called on stopping and ending all Israeli illegal practices “that perpetuate occupation” and deprive Palestinians of their rights.
