Palestinians are grateful to Pakistanis for the cause of Palestine: President Mehmood Abbas
Shares
President Mamnoon Hussain and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas have stressed the need for early and just resolution of Palestine and Kashmir issues for peace and prosperity in the region.
An understanding to this effect came at a meeting between the two leaders at the Aiwan-e-Sadr in Islamabad on Tuesday night.
The two leaders called upon the international community to urge Israel to halt expansion of settlements and play its due role in resolving the long standing Palestine issue.
President Mamnoon Hussain said that Pakistan and Palestine have historically enjoyed close relations, which are based on mutually shared warmth and trust for each other.
The President stated that the people of Pakistan have great affection for the people of Palestine as well as the Palestinian cause adding that the new Palestinian Embassy Complex in Islamabad has become another symbol of our friendship.
President Mamnoon Hussain underscored that Pakistan has consistently supported the Palestinian cause at all forums and would continue to extend all moral and diplomatic support to the Palestinian peoples' quest for an independent state with Al-Quds Al Sharif as its capital.
The President lauded the bravery and valor of Palestinians in the face of gross human rights violations and occupation by Israel. The President said that the peoples of Palestine and Kashmir are suffering at the hands of occupying forces. The President emphasized the need to promote bilateral trade between Pakistan and Palestine.
The visiting dignitary thanked President Mamnoon Hussain for according warm welcome to him and to his delegation and said that Palestine values its friendship with Pakistan and is grateful for its support for the cause of Palestine.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, Minister for States and Frontier Region Abdul Qadir Baloch and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi were also present during the meeting. The Palestinian side included Foreign Minister, Palestine Chief Justice and senior officials.
The two Presidents held one-to-one meeting, which was followed by delegation-level talks.
Earlier, upon arrival, President Mahmoud Abbas was warmly received by President Mamnoon Hussain at the Aiwan-e-Sadr. Children clad in traditional dress presented bouquets to the visiting dignitary.
President Mamnoon Hussain also hosted a banquet in the honour of President Mahmoud Abbas, which was also attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Defence Production Rana Tanveer Ahmed, Minister for Housing Akram Durrani, Services Chiefs and Governors.
Before the state banquet, President Mamnoon Hussain showed personal possessions of the Founder of Pakistan Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah including a personal diary having record of domestic expenditures of the Founder of the Nation and other personal items to President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas who evinced keen interest in them.
President Mamnoon Hussain briefed the visiting dignitary about the personal belongings of Quaid-i-Azam. President of Palestine also viewed a memorable portrayal of Quaid-i-Azam with Grand Mufti Syed Amin-ul-Hussaini and extracts of Allama Iqbal’s poetry on Palestine.
President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation also evinced keen interest in a model of Al Quds Al Sharif which was presented by Yasir Arafat during his visit to Pakistan.
Appreciating the collection of personal belongings of Quaid-i-Azam, President Mahmoud Abbas said that Quaid-i-Azam and Allama Iqbal were great leaders in history.
