ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Thursday welcomed Jordan’s proposal to convene a meeting of Arab and Islamic countries to discuss the “grave situation” in Palestine, particularly occupied East Jerusalem, Pakistan’s foreign office said.
Jordan’s proposal comes amid heightened regional concern over Israeli actions in occupied East Jerusalem, including at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, where several Muslim-majority countries have accused Israel of violating the historical and legal status quo.
The proposed meeting is expected to coordinate a common Arab and Islamic response to developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and reinforce support for East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.
“Both sides welcomed Jordan’s proposal to convene a meeting of Arab and Islamic countries to discuss the grave situation in Palestine, particularly East Jerusalem,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement after a call between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have repeatedly coordinated their diplomatic positions on Middle East crises, including the conflict in Gaza, the status of Jerusalem and maritime security. Pakistan does not recognize Israel and has consistently called for an independent Palestinian state based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
The two ministers also exchanged views on wider regional and international developments, including the recent security situation in the Red Sea and the Bab Al-Mandeb Strait, a strategic maritime chokepoint linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden through which a significant share of global trade and energy supplies passes.
The discussion comes as tensions in and around the Red Sea have intensified following renewed attacks on commercial shipping that have raised concerns about the security of one of the world’s busiest maritime routes and the risk of broader regional escalation.
