It is a matter of great honour for me to participate in the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers preparatory for the 15 th Session of the Islamic Summit Conference in thishistoric city of Banjul. I would like to express my gratitude to Honourable President H. Adama Barrow,and Foreign Minister H. Mamadou Tangara, as well as the government and the people of the Gambia for their warm hospitality. Let me extend my best wishes to the Chairs of the Preparatory Ministerial Meeting and the Islamic Summit for successful outcomes of the events.
We are meeting at a tumultuous time in history. A destabilizing global power rivalry and arms race are underway. Political and military blocs are vying for more power. Climate change has emerged as a colossal challenge for humanity. Presently, what is graveconcern for all of us is the unfortunate tragedyunfolding in Gaza. The numbers are heart breaking and beyond belief. Since 7 th October , more than 33, Palestinians have been killed.
Even the holy month of Ramadan was not spared. Pakistan strongly and unequivocally condemns the indiscriminate and brutal use of force by Israel which must be stopped. The international community must hold Israel accountable for its war crimes and genocide of innocent Palestinians. Pakistan is deeply concerned about ongoing massacre and starvation of Gaza people in the last several months.
Israeli war on the people of Gaza continues unabated and Palestinian people continue to face starvation and genocide. Immediate implementation of the following measures is the urgent need of the hour:. Pakistan reaffirmsits full support for the inalienable right to self-determination of the Palestinian people. The only permanent solution to the current crisis lies in the creation of a secure, viable, contiguous, and sovereign state of Palestine based on the pre-June borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
We must all work towards that end with the utmost urgency. The two oppressors are inspired by a shared playbook. Pakistan will continue to extend all possible diplomatic support to the Kashmiris until the realization of their inalienable right to self-determination, as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions.
