President confers highest civilian award on Jordanian king for peace contributions

• King Abdullah II awards Wisam al-Nahdah al-Mursa to president.
• Jordanian king voices pride in "deep-rooted" ties with Pakistan
• Pakistan, Jordan reiterate "principled stance" on post-war Gaza.
  

President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday conferred the country's highest civilian award upon Jordan's King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein for his contribution towards regional and global peace.

A special investiture ceremony was held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (President's House), after President Zardari hosted the Jordanian king for a luncheon, which was also attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, state-run PTV reported.

The president conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan upon King Abdullah II in recognition of his efforts to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.

The Jordanian king also conferred the Wisam al-Nahdah al-Mursa (Bejewelled Grand Cordon of Al Nahdah, translated as Order of the Renaissance) on President Zardari.

Jordan's king bestows the award on the heads of state and distinguished dignitaries.

Before the ceremony, the two leaders held a meeting to review regional and international developments, with particular focus on peace and security in the Middle East.

President Zardari and King Abdullah II emphasised the importance of bolstering cooperation at multilateral forums and for humanitarian causes.

The Jordanian king voiced pride in "the deep-rooted ties" between Jordan and Pakistan, saying that Jordan was keen to expand cooperation across various sectors.

During the meeting, the two leaders agreed to maintain close coordination on bilateral, regional and global issues.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar; Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Senator Musadik Malik; Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as the ambassadors of Jordan in Pakistan and Pakistan in Jordan, also attended the meeting.

'Need for two-state solution for Palestine'

During the meeting, President Zardari and the Jordanian king reiterated their strong support for a two-state solution for Palestinians.

The two leaders reaffirmed their principled stance on post-war Gaza, saying that they would reject any plan involving the displacement of Palestinians.

They called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign state of Palestine on pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.

Their remarks come as Israeli ministers Israel Katz and Gideon Saar said that their government would not accept the creation of a Palestinian state.

"Israel’s policy is clear: There will be no Palestinian state," Israeli Defence Minister Katz wrote on X earlier in the day.

In a separate post on X, Foreign Minister Saar said Israel "would not agree" to the establishment of a Palestinian state.