Pakistan says US move to shift embassy to Jerusalem violates international law
Pakistan urged the United States to revisit its decision as soon as possible in order to avoid the potentially grave repercussions
December 07, 2017
ISLAMABAD: A statement from the Prime Minister Office has stated that it is "deeply regrettable that pleas from states across the globe not to alter the legal and historical status of Al-Quds Al-Sharif have been ignored, more out of choice than necessity."
President Donald Trump on Wednesday recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel's capital - a historic decision that overturns decades of US policy and risks triggering a fresh spasm of violence in the Middle East.
"This decision represents a serious violation of international law and applicable UN Security Council resolutions, more specifically UNSCR 478. It is a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms. It signals a severe blow to the Middle East peace process as well.
Pakistan shares the international outrage and is deeply concerned over the implications of this decision for international peace and security, especially in the Middle East, the statement said and added that Pakistan called upon the UN Security Council to take cognisance of this situation and take steps in accordance with the UN Charter.
Pakistan urged the United States to revisit its decision as soon as possible in order to avoid the potentially grave repercussions in the region and beyond."
The Government of Pakistan welcomes the announcement by Turkey to convene an extraordinary Islamic Summit next week to discuss this serious issue, the statement added.
Protest call
The Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) has said it will take out a country-wide protest tomorrow against the US decision.
JI chief Sirajul Haq said Trump has put global peace in danger, adding that the US move is like "putting fuel to a fire".
Similarly, during a media talk in Islamabad on Thursday morning, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan condemned the US move, saying, "the Muslim world needs to unite against the move".
He added that, "people like Trump don’t consider Muslims humans".
Pakistan Peoples Party leader Khursheed Shah also condemned the US decision during a media talk today.
'Move targets Muslim world'
Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Khawaja Asif said the US had not only targeted Palestinians but the entire Muslim world.
Speaking on Geo News' programme Aapas Ki Baat Wednesday night, the minister said "the sanctity of Al-Quds for Muslims is not hidden from anyone" and that "not only are the Palestinians a target of this wound but the entire Muslim world."
"This is a blatant evidence of opposition to Muslims.
"A proxy is being propped up in the Middle East, which is extremely condemnable," the foreign minister said."
Asif said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called an emergency meeting of members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on December 13.
"We fully back it and the Muslim world will present its detailed stance from the platform, so that we may fight for the aspirations of our Palestinian brothers," Asif added.
Earlier, in a tweet prior to the announcement by Trump, Asif had said, "By moving the US embassy will practically alter the status of Jerusalem, an affront to Palestinians and the Muslim world."
He had said the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital will be practically burying the two states solution.
"It will add another wound to already bleeding body of Muslim Ummah."
Erdogan, Mamnoon discuss Jerusalem
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called Pakistani counterpart Mamnoon Hussain to discuss US President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, Turkish media reported on Thursday.
The two leaders talked about the implications of the decision, which prompted an almost universal diplomatic backlash and fears of new bloodshed in the Middle East as Trump’s announcement ended seven decades of US ambiguity on the status of Jerusalem, which is vociferously claimed by both Israelis and Palestinians.
President Erdogan, in his call to President Mamnoon, pointed out that there would be no lasting peace in the Middle East unless an independent and sovereign Palestinian state, with Eastern Jerusalem as capital under the borders of 1967, is formed, local media said.
Erdogan also discussed the issue with the leaders of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Malaysia, Tunisia and Sudan earlier.
