Palestine expresses 'deep regret' over envoy's presence at Hafiz Saeed event

New Delhi: India has strongly conveyed to Palestine that the presence of its ambassador to Pakistan at an event of JuD chief Hafiz Saeed, also a UN-designated terrorist, is “unacceptable”, the External Affairs Ministry said on Saturday. 

“The 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,” the ministry said in a release.

It said the Palestinian side has conveyed “deep regrets” over the incident and assured India that they are taking serious cognisance of their ambassador’s presence at this event.

“They have said they will deal with this matter appropriately. 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,” it said.

The government takes note of the assurances given by the Palestine side, it said.

Palestinian ambassador to Pakistan Waleed Abu Ali reportedly attended a rally organised by the Difah-e-Pakistan Council in Liaquat Bagh in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Difah-e-Pakistan Council is an association of religious and extremist groups in Pakistan, headed Saeed, also Mumbai terror attack mastermind.