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• Condemns incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by ‘extremist Israeli settlers’• Appreciates Jordan’s role in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said Israel had no sovereignty over East Jerusalem and its holy sites, condemning the incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by “extremist Israeli settlers”
Addressing a ministerial conference in Amman, Jordan, he said the illegal actions of Israel — the occupying power in Palestine — continued to threaten the sanctity and historical character of the holy sites in Jerusalem
“They undermine international law, disregard UN resolutions, and further erode the prospects of a just, comprehensive and lasting peace,” he added
“Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the continued incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque by extremist Israeli settlers, encouraged by senior Israeli ministers and carried out under the protection of the occupying forces.”
“This appears to be not only an attempt to undermine regional peace, security and stability, but also to drag followers of various religions into a wider conflict,” he said. “We cannot and must not allow that.”
He stressed that there should be no ambiguity that Israel had no sovereignty over occupied East Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian holy sites
“All measures seeking to alter its character and status are null and void and without any legal effect,” he added
The foreign minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the historic and special role played by Jordan and recognised the Jerusalem Endowment and Al-Aqsa Affairs Department, affiliated with the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, as the legal authority with exclusive jurisdiction over the administration of Al-Aqsa Mosque
Moreover, Mr Dar said Pakistan remained “deeply concerned” over the continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements, the establishment of new settlements, and the continued oppression of the Palestinian people
In Gaza, he said, the humanitarian situation remained extremely fragile
“The ceasefire and the implementation of the elements of the Gaza Peace Plan have yielded some improvements; however, 59pc of the population still faces food insecurity and health crises,” Mr Dar said
Since the ceasefire, he said, more than 1,100 Palestinians had been killed, calling into question the full and faithful implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan
“We should support the full and faithful implementation of the comprehensive plan to end the Gaza conflict and UNSC Resolution No. 2803,” Mr Dar said. “We should also strengthen Arab and Islamic coordination and diplomatic efforts to ensure the protection of the Palestinian people.”
Sideline meetings
Mr Dar held one-on-one meetings with the foreign ministers of Turkiye, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Somalia on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, during which they discussed matters of mutual interest, the FO said
During his meeting with his Jordanian counterpart, Ayman Safadi, he discussed the “deteriorating situation in the occupied West Bank”
Mr Dar appreciated Jordan’s role in safeguarding Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem and its support for the Palestinian people
Moreover, the foreign ministers of the R-4 Group, comprising Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, also met on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting
They reiterated their “unwavering support” for the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people, including their right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on the basis of the June 4, 1967, borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions, the FO added
Published in Dawn, August 6th, 2026
