Saudi deputy minister, envoy of Palestine call on army chief

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  • Gen Bajwa says Pakistan views Palestine at par with Kashmir issue

RAWALPINDI: Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Minister for Defence Mohammad Bin Abdullah Al-Aeysh called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa here at the General Headquarters of the Pakistan Army.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that matters of regional security and enhanced bilateral defence cooperation were discussed as the Saudi dignitary appreciated professional standing and performance of the Pakistan Army.

The situation in the region remains tense after US President Donald Trump’s announcement to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. Earlier, General Bajwa reassured Palestinian Ambassador Walid AM Abu Ali that Pakistan views the unresolved Palestine issue at par with the Kashmir issue.

Both Palestine and the Kashmir issues have unequivocal public, moral, and political support of the Pakistani nation, he said, adding that the South Asian Islamic nation would continue to support the principled stance on both the issues regardless of the so-called reality of occupation.

Ambassador Abu Ali thanked the army chief for Pakistan’s support to the Palestinian cause. Earlier this week, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas had said that Jerusalem was the eternal capital of their state in response to President Trump’s announcement that he was recognising the city as Israel’s capital.

On December 6, the American president recognised the disputed city of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – a decision that overturns decades of US policy and risks triggering a fresh wave of disturbance in the Middle East.