KARACHI: Pakistan Foreign Office voiced its concerns over the implications of US president Donald Trump’s move to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, in a statement released on Wednesday.
In a controversial decision by Trump, Jerusalem was recognised as Israel’s capital late Wednesday, a decision that risks causing a new wave of violence in the Middle East.
“I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel,” Trump said from the White House. “It’s the right thing to do.”
The Pakistani Foreign Office said that Pakistan “joins the international community in expressing its strong opposition and condemnation” at the risky move.
The statement also said that the more regrettable fact is that this was done “more out of choice than necessity.”
Pakistan called it a “serious violation of international law” and United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) resolutions. This was “a serious setback to the rule of law and international norms” and “a severe blow to the Middle East peace process,” said the Foreign Office.
“Pakistan calls upon the [UNSC] to take cognisance of this situation and take steps in accordance with the UN Charter…. Pakistan urges the United States to revisit its decision as soon as possible in order to avoid the potentially grave repercussions in the region and beyond.”
Minister of Foreign Affairs Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that the US had targeted not only Palestinians but sentiments of the entire Muslim world. He was talking on a local TV talk show. He further said that this was a blatant evidence of opposition to Muslims.
Trump is also in the process of moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, to “solve” the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, according to reports.
Asif further said that Pakistan welcomed Turkey’s announcement to call an extraordinary summit of Muslim countries next week to talk about the matter.
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.”