Key Takeaways
- Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar called for a collective response to Al-Aqsa Mosque violations.
- The meeting was convened by Jordan as a follow-up to an earlier ministerial meeting in Amman.
- Pakistan supports the Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar has called for a collective and sustained response to continued violations against Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif. Addressing a joint Arab League–Group of Four Islamic Countries (Pakistan, Türkiye, Malaysia and Indonesia) ministerial meeting on Jerusalem in New York, Dar emphasized the need for vigilance and a coordinated response.
The meeting, convened by Jordan, was a follow-up to a ministerial meeting held in Amman on August 5. Pakistan participated in the earlier meeting to coordinate positions on developments in occupied Jerusalem.
Dar reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Hashemite custodianship of Islamic and Christian holy sites and the jurisdiction of the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department over Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif. He called for international support to preserve the historical and legal status quo in Jerusalem and its holy sites.
The deputy prime minister also urged countries to reject unilateral measures aimed at changing the character, identity, or status of the city. He called for sustained international attention to developments in Jerusalem and a timely collective response to any violation of the established status quo.
Dar emphasized Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, and contiguous Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Dar met with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi. The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and regional developments, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening Pakistan-Jordan relations.
The meeting highlighted the ongoing concerns over the status of Al-Aqsa Mosque and the need for a unified approach to address the violations. Dar’s call for a collective response underscores the international community’s commitment to preserving the historical and legal status quo in occupied East Jerusalem.
