Palestine on Sunday rubbished reports published in the Pakistani media that it has reinstated the Ambassador who was recalled last week after he attended a rally organised by Mumbai-attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed in Rawalpindi on December 29, 2017.
Pakistani media reports quoted Ulema Council chairman Maulana Tashir Ashrafi as saying Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has reinstated Walid Abu Ali, who was recalled after India expressed anguish over his presence in Saeed’s rally.
“We deny this information. Our Ambassador in Pakistan is now in Palestine. Our position was declared by our official statement which we
published last week,” Palestine Foreign Office said.
Saeed is a proclaimed terrorist by the United Nations and India termed Ali’s participation with the terrorist who masterminded several attacks in India as “unacceptable”. Ministry of External Affairs said India’s concerns were conveyed both in New Delhi to the Palestinian Ambassador and in Ramallah to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, State of Palestine.
“It was also conveyed that Palestine highly values its relationship with India and stands with us in the war against terrorism, and will not engage with those who commit acts of terror against India,” MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said last week.
While conveying deep regrets over the gaffe, the Palestinian side assured India that they were taking serious cognisance of their ambassador’s presence at this event and promised to deal with the matter appropriately. Shortly Palestine announced withdrawal of its envoy. In his statement, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates stressed on the commitment of the Palestine and keenness to maintain strong and friendly relations with India, as well as its support to the efforts made by in its war against terrorism.
“In that regard the State of Palestine affirms its stand with the Republic of India in dealing with its terrorist threats, as our nations are real partners in the war against terrorism. The State of Palestine highly appreciates India’s support in its tireless efforts to end the Israeli occupation and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine on the 1967 boarders with East Jerusalem as its capital and this is especially seen in the honorable position that India has taken by voting in favour of the resolution in the United Nation General Assembly last week,” Palestine FO said.
It added that on the basis of the principled and firm Palestinian position, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates considered the participation of its ambassador in Pakistan in a mass rally in solidarity with Jerusalem, held in Rawalpindi and in the presence of individuals accused of supporting terrorism as “an unintended mistake, but not justified.” Palestinian authorities also indicated that they are not keen to become a subject of discussion or contention between India and Pakistan.