NEW YORK/ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Thursday reaffirmed their shared commitment to dialogue, multilateralism, and effective cooperation, particularly within the framework of the United Nations.
The reaffirmation came during a meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Yvette Cooper on the sidelines of a high-level UN Security Council meeting on Palestine in New York, according to a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office.
During the meeting, both leaders exchanged views on key regional and international developments and underscored the importance of sustained high-level engagement. They agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation across political, economic, trade, investment, defence, and people-to-people sectors. Foreign Minister Dar also appreciated the UK’s role in convening the important UN briefing.
Productive UN Engagements
During his one-day official visit to New York, FM Dar participated in the UN Security Council’s High-Level Meeting on Palestine, chaired by Secretary Cooper, ahead of the inaugural session of the Board of Peace (BoP). He also held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, and the United Kingdom, as well as representatives from Palestine and Syria.
Discussions focused on bilateral ties, regional developments, and shared international concerns, highlighting Pakistan’s active diplomatic engagement at the global level.
Strong Stance on Palestine
At the Security Council, FM Dar strongly condemned Israel’s recent unilateral and illegal measures aimed at expanding control over the Occupied West Bank. He called for the immediate halt and reversal of these actions, reiterating Pakistan’s principled support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.
He emphasized that any political process must lead to the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous Palestinian state based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. FM Dar expressed hope that the Board of Peace, established under UN Security Council Resolution 2803, would contribute to meaningful progress toward lasting peace.
Justice and Accountability for Lasting Peace
Addressing the UN briefing, FM Dar stressed that lasting peace cannot be achieved without justice and accountability. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s consistent position against any actions that alter the status of occupied Palestinian territories and highlighted the urgent need for humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Pakistan has long supported a two-state solution and continues to advocate for peace based on international law, justice, and respect for human rights.
