Senator Ishaq Dar Arrives In Beijing For Bilateral Talks
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar departed Islamabad this morning for a strategic one-day visit to Beijing, China. This mission, undertaken at the formal invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, represents Senator Dar’s second official visit to the Chinese capital within the current calendar year.
Islamic Nations Condemn Israeli Restrictions On Jerusalem Holy Sites
The primary objective of the visit is a comprehensive review of bilateral relations, with both leaders expected to engage in deep consultations regarding regional stability and global issues of mutual interest. The visit underscores the “all-weather” nature of the Pakistan-China partnership and the continuous coordination required to manage evolving geopolitical dynamics in South Asia.
Simultaneously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a powerful joint statement on behalf of the Foreign Ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar. The coalition of eight nations expressed their strongest condemnation of the persistent restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on religious freedom in occupied Jerusalem.
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Specifically, the ministers rejected the prevention of Muslim worshippers from accessing the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram Al-Sharif and the obstruction of Christian leaders, including the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for Palm Sunday Mass.
The joint ministerial statement characterized these Israeli measures as flagrant violations of international humanitarian law and the established legal and historical status quo of the holy sites. The ministers emphasized that Israel, as an occupying power, holds no sovereign jurisdiction over occupied Jerusalem.
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They highlighted the particular gravity of the situation at Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has seen its gates closed to worshippers for 30 consecutive days, including during the holy month of Ramadan. Such actions, the ministers warned, represent a dangerous escalation that directly threatens both regional and international peace and security.
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A central point of the declaration reaffirmed that the entire 144-dunam area of Al-Aqsa Mosque is an exclusive place of worship for Muslims. The ministers underscored that the Jerusalem Endowments and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which operates under the Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, remains the sole legal entity with jurisdiction to administer the site and regulate entry.
The eight nations called upon the international community to adopt a firm, unified position to compel Israel to immediately cease these illegal practices and remove all access restrictions within the Old City of Jerusalem.
Following these international developments, Deputy Prime Minister Dar held a telephonic conversation with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan. During the call, Minister Fidan expressed his gratitude for the hospitality he received during his recent visit to Islamabad for the quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers. Both officials took the opportunity to reaffirm the enduring strength of the Pakistan-Türkiye bilateral relationship. They agreed to maintain close and continuous contact to ensure that their shared diplomatic objectives regarding regional security and Islamic solidarity are effectively pursued across international forums.
Pakistan And Türkiye Reaffirm Strategic Ties In High-Level Call
These multifaceted diplomatic efforts illustrate Pakistan’s active role in navigating complex global alliances. From strengthening the core strategic bond with China to leading collective Islamic advocacy for religious rights in Jerusalem, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is operating on multiple high-stakes fronts.
The combination of Senator Dar’s personal diplomacy in Beijing and the joint pressure applied by the eight-nation coalition reflects a concerted effort to uphold international law and protect the historical sanctity of religious institutions in the face of ongoing occupation and regional volatility.
