ISLAMABAD, Jan 10: Pakistan welcomed on Monday the victory of PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas as the new President of the Palestinian National Authority, and called on the international community to play its due role in backing his efforts to resolve the conflict.

"The election of Mr Mahmoud Abbas is a demonstration of the Palestinian people's trust and confidence in his leadership, and in his lifelong struggle towards the Palestinian cause," said Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan at the outset of his weekly briefing here.

"It is now the responsibility of the international community to extend all possible support and assistance in strengthening the hands of the elected Palestinian leader in his efforts to arrive at an acceptable and viable solution of the conflict," Mr Khan said.

Welcoming the success of Mr Abbas in Sunday's general elections, he said Pakistan hoped that Israel would respond positively to this development, and fulfil its responsibilities as enshrined in the relevant UN resolutions and the Middle East roadmap for peace by restarting the stalled peace negotiations with the Palestinians.

Reiterating Pakistan's support for the Palestinian cause, he underlined that Pakistan had always stood by its Palestinian brothers in demanding the restitution of their inalienable rights, including their right to an independent home land of their own.

When questioned about Pakistan's stand on key issues regarding Palestine, including return of refugees, Al Quds as the capital of the Palestinian state, Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and full sovereignty for the state, he pointed out that Pakistan had always supported the Palestinian cause under the UN Security Council resolutions.

"We have also supported Palestine's quest for a fully-fledged statehood, sovereignty and political independence. We also say that the quartet's roadmap should be implemented which will facilitate emergence of Palestine as an independent state," the foreign office spokesman maintained.