By Our Staff Reporter
Islamabad : Pakistan reiterated on Tuesday that it will not create ties with Israel until there is a “viable, independent and contiguous” Palestinian state acceptable to the Palestinians.
The statement came in response to persistent speculative media reports and comments that the South Asian majority-Muslim nation might rethink its refusal to recognise Israel.
The Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the media debate as baseless speculation and stressed that Islamabad “strongly supports the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent comment was “clear and unmistakable,” the spokesperson of the Ministry said.
“The Prime Minister has made it clear that unless a fair settlement of the Palestinian issue is found to be satisfactory to the Palestinian people, Pakistan cannot recognise Israel,” said the Speaker.
“For just and lasting peace, it is imperative to have a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) resolutions, with the pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as the capital of a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Pakistan has denounced Israel since its inception in 1947. Pakistanis cannot visit the Jewish state because the country’s passport states that it is “valid for all countries of the world except Israel.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s “secret” visit to Saudi Arabia last Sunday for talks with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman fueled speculation that Riyadh was moving towards Israel’s recognition.
These speculations stemmed from the historic US-brokered agreement reached by the United Arab Emirates with Israel in August to establish ties between the two countries.
However, Saudi officials have denied Netanyahu’s visit. But the alleged trip also exacerbated rumours about Pakistan following suit and recognition of Israel under Saudi pressure.
Pakistan has traditionally had a close partnership with Saudi Arabia, which is seen in Islamabad as receiving crucial Saudi financial assistance and oil supplies on deferred payments, as the South Asian nation faces economic challenges.
Speaking to a private Pakistani television channel earlier this month, Prime Minister Khan admitted that his government was under diplomatic pressure to recognise Israel. But he was evasive when asked if “brotherly Muslim countries” were also among those exerting pressure on Pakistan in the wake of the UAE-Israel agreement.
“Leave it, let’s move on,” Khan said. “There are certain things that we cannot discuss in public because of our good relations with (Muslim) countries. We wouldn’t have wanted to upset them. Let our country stand on its feet, then ask me these questions.”