Zubair Qureshi
Ambassador-designate of the Sultanate of Oman, FahadSulaimanKhalaf Al Kharusi has reiterated his country’s unwavering support to the people of Palestine who have been facing unspeakable miseries and sufferings by the occupying Israeli forces for the last one and a half months.
He was speaking at a reception marking the 53rd National Day of Oman. The host shared with the audience Oman’s milestone accomplishments made in all aspects of life under the leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik.
Caretaker Federal Minister for National Heritage & Culture Division Jamal Shah was the Chief Guest on the occasion while a large number of guests including parliamentarians, scholars, academicians, members of civil society and diplomats particularly those from the Arab countries attended the reception and greeted the ambassador-designate on the prestigious occasion.
The ambassador while thanking the guests said the Sultanate has been consistently celebrating the National Day for the last five decades. We are honoring our past, celebrating the present and mobilizing for the future, he said.
The major part of his speech was, however, devoted to Palestine and the sufferings of the Palestinians. They are putting up an epic resistance against the war crimes committed by the Israeli forces, said the ambassador-designate noting thousands of children, women and the elderly persons have already lost their lives while hundreds and thousands are injured or displaced from their houses. Oman demands immediate halt to the Israeli attacks and a safe passage for the humanitarian aid to Gaza, he said. He said there was no military solution to the conflict in the region. There could be only one solution i.e. end to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories. The two-state solution is the only way to restore peace in the region with East Jerusalem as Palestinian state’s capital, he said. He asked the world powers, international players to stand up for Palestine and support their just cause. It has become now a moral obligation to raise voice for them and play a role to end their sufferings.
The ambassador-designate said Oman valued its ties with Pakistan as both the nations shared geographical, social, religious and cultural similarities. These linkages are a sign of strong and growing people-to-people, government-to-government and the business-to-business relations in all sectors. He expressed gratitude to the Federal Minister Jamal Shah and other Pakistani guests for participating in Oman’s national day celebrations. The guests were later served with traditional Omani Qahwa and ShuwaMandi (roasted lamb & rice).
