Pakistan condemns Israeli minister’s storming of Al-Aqsa mosque

By Islamuddin Sajid ISLAMABAD (AA) - Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned Tuesday’s provocation at Al-Aqsa Mosque by Israel’s new national security minister.

In a statement, the country’s Foreign Ministry said that Al-Aqsa is a holy site revered by Muslims around the world, and violation of its sanctity offends the religious sensitivities of Muslims and inflames an already tense situation in the occupied Palestinian territories.

"Israel must cease its illegal actions and respect the sanctity of Muslim religious sites in the occupied Palestinian territories," said the ministry.

Islamabad reiterated its support for the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people and called for “a viable, independent, and contiguous Palestinian State, with pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions.”

On Tuesday, Israel's new National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir entered the Al-Aqsa Mosque complex in occupied East Jerusalem, a day after announcing he postponed the visit amid warnings of unrest.

Pakistan called the Israeli minister's move "insensitive and provocative."

For Muslims, Al-Aqsa represents the world's third-holiest site. Jews, for their part, refer to the area as the Temple Mount, saying it was the site of two Jewish temples in ancient times.

Meanwhile, the ministry rejected the "baseless and frivolous accusations" against Islamabad made by India’s Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar.

On Monday Jaishankar in Vienna, Austria, accused Pakistan of the Mumbai 2008 attack and said Islamabad is sending terrorists across the border, according to Indian broadcaster NDTV.

“His latest tirade is a reflection of growing frustration over India’s failure to malign and isolate Pakistan," said Islamabad.

“For the last several years, India has engaged in a malicious campaign to mislead the international community through a fictitious narrative of victimhood and vile anti-Pakistan propaganda. This practice must stop," the ministry added.