By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and King Abdullah II of Jordan said on Saturday that they would oppose any forced displacement of Palestinians from Gaza, reiterating a joint position of “zero-tolerance” for such moves as diplomats search for a durable end to the war in the territory.
The two leaders met at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on the first day of a two-day state visit by the Jordanian monarch, their discussions centering on Gaza, bilateral ties and regional security.
A statement from Sharif’s office said the leaders “acknowledged the unanimity of views and principled positions taken by Pakistan and Jordan regarding the post-war Gaza; zero-tolerance for any displacement of Palestinians from Gaza.” It added that both countries, part of an eight-nation Muslim group that has been coordinating with the Trump administration, “agreed to enhance coordination” on the ceasefire and the Gaza peace plan signed last month in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt.
Pakistan and Jordan were also among the Muslim and Arab states that on Friday expressed support for a United States-backed resolution calling for an international stabilization force in Gaza.
King Abdullah praised Pakistan’s “consistent support” for Jordan’s custodianship of Jerusalem’s holy sites and its humanitarian role during and after the Gaza war, the statement said.
The monarch’s plane was escorted into Pakistani airspace by JF-17 Thunder jets. He was received at Nur Khan Air Base by President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Sharif, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, the chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party, and other dignitaries. A guard of honor was presented at the Prime Minister’s House, followed by a banquet in the evening.
Sharif described the visit as “a testament to the enduring friendship” between the two nations. King Abdullah thanked the government and people of Pakistan for their “warm hospitality.”
The leaders witnessed the signing of memorandums of understanding in media, culture and education, and pledged deeper cooperation in trade, investment, health, science and technology, and defense.
Sharif briefed the king on developments in Afghanistan and India. The Jordanian monarch, according to the official readout, “acknowledged Pakistan’s key role in maintaining peace and stability in the region.”
President Zardari, in remarks after greeting the king, said the visit would give Pakistan-Jordan relations “a new strategic dimension,” adding that the ties were rooted in “historical brotherhood, mutual trust and shared values.”
State broadcaster PTV quoted an official statement saying the trip reflected “longstanding fraternal relations” and would strengthen political, economic and cultural cooperation.
King Abdullah last visited Pakistan in 2018 at the invitation of then-President Mamnoon Hussain, when agreements were signed on civil defence and housing. Last month, he met Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, in Amman and commended the Pakistani military’s contributions to regional peace.
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