Yesterday, Palestinian ambassador in Islamabad Walid Abu Ali attended a large rally organised by an alliance of Islamist groups in Rawalpindi, according to reports.

India will strongly take up with Palestine the issue of its ambassador in Pakistan attending a rally organised by Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief and 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

“We have seen reports in this regard. We are taking up the matter strongly with the Palestinian ambassador in New Delhi and with the Palestinian authorities,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said yesterday. He was reacting to a query on reports and photographs of the Palestinian ambassador participating in the rally.

A report by the Hindustan Times quoted “officials” as saying India would issue a “strongly worded demarche” to Palestine.

According to reports, Palestinian ambassador in Islamabad Walid Abu Ali attended a large rally organised by the Difa-e-Pakistan (Defence of Pakistan) Council in Rawalpindi, Pakistan yesterday morning.

The DPC is an alliance of Islamist groups in Pakistan, including Hafiz Saeed’s outfit.

One of the images posted on social media showed Walid Abu Ali sitting next to Hafiz Saeed.

The Hindustan Times report said “several speakers at the gathering, including Saeed, also referred to the Kashmir issue and made anti-India remarks.”

Saeed asked Muslim nations “to act in the defence of Jerusalem,” the report said. The rally came weeks after US President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – a decision that sparked a furore across the Muslim world.